- Everyday care
- Darker Skin Tones
- Cosmetic treatments
- Public health programs
- Find a dermatologist
- For AAD Members
- Donate
- Coronavirus Resource Center
- Acne
- Eczema
- Hair loss
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Skin cancer
- A to Z diseases
- A to Z videos
- Skin care basics
- Skin care secrets
- Injured skin
- Itchy skin
- Sun protection
- Nail care secrets
- Skin care secrets
- Hair care
- Hair loss
Welcome!
Diseases & conditions
Featured
Molluscum contagiosum: How to safely treat itBoth the CDC and the FDA warn against treating this common childhood condition on your own with non-prescription treatments. See what they recommend.
Find answers to questions patients ask about this newer treatment option, including, “What’s involved in switching from a biologic to a biosimilar?”
Everyday care
Featured
Practice Safe SunEveryone's at risk for skin cancer. These dermatologists' tips tell you how to protect your skin.
Find out what may be causing the itch and what can bring relief.
Darker Skin Tones
Featured
Fade dark spotsFind out why dark spots appear and what can fade them.
If you have what feels like razor bumps or acne on the back of your neck or scalp, you may have acne keloidalis nuchae. Find out what can help.
Cosmetic treatments
Featured
Laser hair removalYou can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one?
If you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment.
It can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results aren’t permanent. Here’s how long botox tends to last.
Public health programs
Featured
Free materials to help raise skin cancer awarenessUse these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer.
Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions, which can prevent misunderstanding and bullying.
Find a dermatologist
Featured
Find a DermatologistYou can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist that’s right for you.
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
Dermatologists share their insider tips
Shopping for an anti-aging skin care product can feel like a hit-or-miss experience. With so many choices, it can be difficult to know which products to choose. These dermatologist tips can help you shop with confidence.
Start with sunscreen and moisturizer. Dermatologists agree that sunscreen and moisturizer are the two most-effective anti-aging products you can buy. Using these every day can make a noticeable difference.
When shopping for sunscreen, select one that offers all of the following:
Broad spectrumTreat your #1 aging-skin concern. Give sunscreen and moisturizer a few weeks to work. Then look at your skin. Is there still a sign of aging that bothers you?
By focusing on one concern, such as wrinkles or dark spots, you’ll get the best results. Look for a product that targets your concern. There are two reasons for this:
No product can treat all signs of skin agingBuy a product formulated for your skin type. Your sunscreen, moisturizer, and other anti-aging skin care products will work best if they are formulated for your skin type. For example, if your skin tends to be oily, select a moisturizer made for oily skin. If you have sensitive skin, you want to see the words “sensitive skin” on the label.
This is important because no one product works for everyone.
Read product labels and select a product that offers all of the following:
Hypoallergenic (The product can still cause an allergic reaction, but there is less risk)Have realistic expectations. Exaggerated promises, such as look 10 years younger overnight or quickly reduces all signs of aging, are too good to be true. It’s important to remember that anti-aging skin care products deliver modest results. You cannot get the results of a facelift from a cream.
“Clinically proven” means that the product was given to consumers to try. It does not mean the product underwent clinical trials and received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Select a product within your price range. It’s human nature to think that the more expensive the product, the better the results. Effective anti-aging products come in all price ranges.
SPF 30 (or higher)
Water resistance
An anti-aging moisturizer helps to minimize fine lines. It is so effective that moisturizer is the secret ingredient in many anti-aging products.
Using a moisturizer with sunscreen is fine. Just be sure that the product offers broad-spectrum coverage and an SPF of 30 or higher.
If you will spend time outdoors during the day, you should apply a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, SPF 30 (or higher), and water resistance. Be sure to reapply your sunscreen every two hours while outdoors.
Using more than one anti-aging product in a few days or weeks can irritate the skin, making you look older
Non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic (does not cause acne)
Consumer hotline (to contact for questions)
Maximize the results you see
Once you’ve selected a product, you can maximize its effectiveness by following tips that dermatologists share with their patients.