Looking to MMPs and Wexler to fight aging skin

There are two ways to attack any problem, right? You either go after the symptoms and pray you're not just masking things; or you aim your arrow at the root cause and pray you got a bullseye.

In thecollagen production and cellular turnover, and to plump things up a bit. Or, you get out your wallet and head to your derm for a collagen injection (or other cosmetic procedure).

But if you want to go to the root cause, you start looking at things like MMPs. MMPs (aka Matrix Metalloproteinases if you can say it) are the scourge of the aging woman. MMPs are naturally occuring enzymes within the skin that contribute to the degradation of collagen and elastin in skin's matrix.

Normally (ie, when you're under 25), your skin matrix is continuously replenished--but as we know, with age collagen production slows. And while life seems to diminish much of what we have as we age, the powers that be played a little cruel trick--seems MMPs increase as we age. JACKPOT!?!?!--no, not quite.

The net effect is that the supporting cast for your skin has skipped the show for the night, your sans understudies, and oh, by the way, the critics are trashing you.

The Patricia Wexler MD line offers topical treatments that target MMPs. Patricia Wexler MMPi.20 Skin Regenerating Serum is one such formula. Dr. Wexler shares some additional info about MMPs on the Bath & Body Works site (where her line is sold):

The production of excessive MMPs is stimulated by multiple factors that include the natural aging process, environmental stressors, smoking, UV exposure and pollution. The key to anti-aging is to stop abnormal activities of MMPs and prevent the excessive production of new MMPs.

How are you attacking aging skin? Let us know! And if you've tried Patricia Wexler MMPi.20 Skin Regenerating Serum, Was it worth it?