First, the best kept beauty secret is not found on the counter of a department store! It is an Rx. There are a few prescriptive treatments that dermatologists use that are an excellent part of an overall skin improvement regimen – these unique prescriptions are the best-kept beauty secrets, and all you need to do is ask about them; they are as follows:

• Anti-aging medications – Your dermatologist is able to prescribe the “gold standard” in anti-wrinkle and anti-aging prescriptive medications. For example, your dermatologist may write a prescription for a topical retinoid, which is a derivative of vitamin A that has been approved by the FDA and is backed by many years of research studies. In fact, topical retinoids are the only FDA-approved anti-wrinkle cream available. Retinoids cause an increased turnover of skin cells, and thus speed up the skin cycle, causing your skin to function much like it did when it was younger. Over time, topical retinoids can smooth fine lines and wrinkles, improve darkened areas of the skin, smooth rough areas, and improve sun damage – retinoids are generally considered to be the best anti-aging prescription available.

A word of caution: retinoids should not be confused with cosmeceuticals labeled “retinols.” Combined with “skin brightening treatments” (see below), and used under professional supervision, rather good results are frequently obtained with FDA-approved, prescription retinoids.

• Skin brightening treatments – In the nineties, skin brighteners were referred to as skin lighteners. Often, Madison Avenue marketers take something that is not new but make it sound new, by adopting a new word or catch phrase. In this case, the word “lightener” was changed to “brightener.” The way it works is: brighteners prevent irregular or overactive pigment production. A major cause of dark spots (hyperpigmentation) is damage by UVA and UVB rays. Hyperpigmentation can be worsened due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, or by certain birth control pills, or by hormone replacement therapy, or other variables. There are a variety of products available for skin lightening, but, for best results, avoid expensive, non-prescriptive products. Your dermatologist can give you a prescription that inhibits melanin production and will brighten your skin the best. Also, to get maximum benefit from a brightener, your dermatologist can explain how to use it properly and how to combine it with a sunscreen containing the proper SPF. As stated, some of the best-kept beauty secrets can be obtained with a simple Rx from a dermatologist.