Vitamin C Cream (Cellex-C) Drug for Wrinkles: Use, Side Effects, Interactions

Vitamin C Cream
(Cellex-C, United States)

Use:

Vitamin C Cream or Cellex-C is used to reduce wrinkles.

How It Works:

Vitamin C is an anti oxidant, meaning that it reduces something known as free radicals. It is thought that free radicals are involved in decreasing normal chemical reactions in the body. Other anti oxidant agents are vitamins A and E.
In the case of vitamin C and wrinkles the chemical reaction involved is thought to be collagen synthesis. Thus Vitamin C Cream or Cellex-C is able to increase collagen synthesis, smoothing out wrinkles.
Vitamin C Cream or Cellex-C restores the skin while tretinoin and alpha hydroxy acids - AHA - exfoliate the skin to make it look smoother.

Side Effects:

Vitamin C Cream or Cellex-C can cause local irritation at the site of application.

Cautions for People:

While Vitamin C Cream or Cellex-C may have the potential to reduce wrinkles, it may not be able to eliminate all wrinkles. Once Vitamin C Cream or Cellex-C is stopped, the skin may return to its former wrinkled condition.

Drug Interactions:

Vitamin C Cream or Cellex-C is intended to be applied to clean skin, thus it is recommended to not be used with other medicated creams.

Further Reading:

Health 1995;9(3):49

Added to Virtual Drugstore August 1996.

The relevant product monographs must be regarded as the appropriate sources of prescribing information.