Phenylephrine for Wrinkles - Does it Work?
Preparation H, the well known medication that has the ability to shrink hemorrhoids, has been used for years by people who claim it is an excellent product for reducing wrinkles on their face. People believed the product could reduce wrinkles due to the power of shark oil and a live yeast derivative that was contained in Preparation H. Unfortunately for Whitehall Robbins; the manufacture of Preparation H, the FDA demanded they change the formula of their product in 1994. The version containing shark oil and live yeast ingredients can be purchased in Canada and in Europe but not in the United States.
Phenylephrine for Your Wrinkles
The reformulated version of Preparation H sold in the United States now contains Phenylephrine HCI which is categorized as a vasoconstrictor and is used as a nasal decongestant. It is also utilized to dilate pupils in the eyes and to increase a person's blood pressure. Some people believe using Phenylephrine for wrinkles can work on a temporary basis.
Some dermatologists have reported that Phenylephrine has been successful in reducing puffy eyes on a temporary basis due to its ability to constrict capillaries. A dermatology teacher at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York has stated that using Phenylephrine can temporarily tighten up your facial skin by causing your blood vessels to constrict and also by shrinking the tissue located under your eyes. It should be noted that a spokesperson for the manufacture of Preparation H has stated that their product should not be placed in the area near the eyes.
Preparation H and Side Effects
No clinical research has been done to evaluate the benefits and the side effects of using Preparation H or Phenylephrine for wrinkles. People have reported that using Preparation H on their face has caused their skin to become dry, also inflammation has occurred and some have reported they have experienced a burning feeling from using the product on their face. One user of Preparation H for reducing wrinkles claimed his face become very red from using the product and that the bags located under his eyes actually increased in size. The area around his eyes gave him a burning sensation and was also quite itchy. He mentioned that his face was swollen and raw for two days due to using the product.
One expert stated that using Preparation H on your face will temporarily tighten your skin and thus reduce the visibility of wrinkles, however, if you continually use the product you might be harming your skin due to the constant tightening and loosening process your skin has to deal with. This tightening and loosening process will cause your facial skin to loose some of its elasticity. If you want to use Phenylephrine for wrinkle reduction you should talk to your dermatologist before using the product. Your dermatologist will probably recommend other products for reducing wrinkles and probably not recommend using Phenylephrine for wrinkle reduction.
