The term cosmeceutical, as funny as it looks, should be well-known by now but it is not. Many people have never heard the word which was coined by Dr. Albert Klingman in 1984. It is a combination of the words cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; the word was introduced to give reference to agents that were developed utilizing various drugs but sold in a cosmetic form. It seems that it was in answer to a variety of marketing ploys concerning the new breed of skin care.

This category of skin care products, like many other pre-cuts, is unregulated and has no set standards for claims made by the manufacturers of the wide range of products available today. Because of the diversity of the products and the claims being made, many people are confused when they step into stores and walk down the cosmetic aisles (or up to the cosmetics counter). The lack of regulation also means that dermatologic surgeons (skin surgeons) are facing with questions about whether to have patients use the products or not, as the may or may not enhance the healing process. In some cases, they have actually retarded the process.

So, why would dermatologic surgeons choose to utilize these products in their practices? The answer is quite simple. Patients benefit from the psychological relief they have in knowing that they are using an after-surgery product that their doctor has recommended. This is not to say that cosmeceuticals are only recommended to put your mind at ease. Many times a doctor finds a product that truly benefits the patient and he knows it will have excellent effects on the skin in post-surgery care.

Even if the product has no major factors in helping to heal, the state of the patient's psyche does have a major part in the healing process. In these cases, the product actually works much like a placebo in a clinical study. The patient believes that the product will give them great benefits which makes them happier and more at ease about their recent surgery. The resulting 'good' emotions keep stress levels down and the body is better able to heal itself.

So, how does all of this relate to anti-ageing techniques? Actually, unless you are considering surgery as an option for your fight against aging, you may not be affected much. However, if you are a candidate for plastic surgery, you will probably find that your doctor 'prescribes' cosmeceutical skin care products for you to use after your operation. Unfortunately, unless your doctor is willing to be quite honest with you about true results from the products, you may never know whether the skin care regimen he recommends actually has a good track record for aid in healing.

Cosmeceuticals may also be 'prescribed' for patients who are not having surgery. In these cases, they are usually prescribed as an anti-ageing regimen and you can expect that they have a decent track record for this. Few doctors are going to prescribe a product that is supposed to help your face look younger if they do not know that it does help.

Some things that have been reported by patients and dermatological surgeons which affect the appearance on ageing skin, making it look younger, are: reducing light wrinkles and fine lines, lightening sun spots, reducing the appearance of some scars, and healing of wounds. Vitamin C seems to be good at treating sun-damaged skin and topical zinc tend to help the healing process. All of these fall under the anti-ageing umbrella when it comes to skin care; all of these are desired by the people who are trying to keep their skin looking as young as they can.

Cosmeceuticals which were reported as having some of these effects are: glycolic acid (which you can get in homemade preparations utilizing milk or sugar as an ingredient), hydro quinine (which is available in both as an over-the-counter product and as a prescription product), licorice extract (which you can add to homemade products), melatonin, retinol products, topical niacin amide (which is Vitamin B3 in a form that you apply to the skin) and Vitamin C (which you add to homemade products when you use various fruits, especially citrus fruits).