Which would you use, DMAE or ALPHA LIPOIC

[littlebit]

I want to make a DIY cream ( I ordered the DIT download from here) but don't want to make my life more complicated. I am going to try the Vitamin C serum. But I want to use the Vitamin C every other day to avoid irritation. On my off days, I would like to use another cream. I also need a light moisurizer for mornings and I am thinking that I would like to use the DMAE then. Which would you use? And does anyone know a really inexpensive DMAE cream that I can purchase?

Thanks!

[drtodorov]

There were some concerns about DMAE and possible side effects. Perhaps you want to wait till there's more data.
See smartskincare.com/ingredients/dmae_safety.html

[littlebit]

Interesting. I checked Perricone's site and they are refuting this based on the Johnson and Johnson study of DMAE. Looks like Dr. Oz of Oprah fame, has told her audience no to use DMAE as well. That stinks because I already ordered it.

[drtodorov]

Is there a reference to J&J study?

[littlebit]

Johnson and Johnson Consumer Products Worldwide, Skillman, NJ 08558, USA.

Skincare formulations for the improvement of aging skin are increasingly important consumer products. Here, we review available data on one such agent - 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) or deanol - that has recently been evaluated in a placebo-controlled trial. DMAE is an analog of the B vitamin choline and is a precursor of acetylcholine. Although the role of acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter is well known, growing evidence points to acetylcholine as a ubiquitous cytokine-like molecule that regulates basic cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, locomotion, and secretion in a paracrine and autocrine fashion. Indeed, this modulatory role may contribute to the cutaneous activity of DMAE.In a randomized clinical study, 3% DMAE facial gel applied daily for 16 weeks has been shown to be safe and efficacious (p < 0.05) in the mitigation of forehead lines and periorbital fine wrinkles, and in improving lip shape and fullness and the overall appearance of aging skin. These effects did not regress during a 2-week cessation of application. Beneficial trends (p > 0.05 but </= 0.1) were noted in the appearance of coarse wrinkles, under-eye dark circles, nasolabial folds, sagging neck skin, and neck firmness. Application was found to be well tolerated, with no differences in the incidence of erythema, peeling, dryness, itching, burning, or stinging between the DMAE and placebo groups. An open-label extension of the trial showed that the long-term application of DMAE gel for up to 1 year was associated with a good safety profile. The acute skin-firming effects of DMAE have been confirmed by quantitative measures of cutaneous tensile strength. In vitro studies in peripheral blood lymphocytes indicate that DMAE is a moderately active anti-inflammatory agent. Although its mechanisms of action in the skin remain to be elucidated, evidence suggests that the skin is an active site of acetylcholine synthesis, storage, secretion, metabolism, and receptivity. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors have been localized to keratinocytes, melanocytes and dermal fibroblasts, whereas nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been found in keratinocytes. The role of acetylcholine and the role of DMAE as a modulator of acetylcholine-mediated functions in the skin remain to be elucidated.Thus, the benefits of DMAE in dermatology include a potential anti-inflammatory effect and a documented increase in skin firmness with possible improvement in underlying facial muscle tone. Studies are needed to evaluate the relative efficacy of DMAE compared with other skin-care regimens (e.g., topical antioxidant creams, alpha-hydroxy acids).

PMID: 15675889 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]