[Active ingredients in dermatocosmetics].

Modern skin care- and anti-aging preparations feature both advanced formulation concepts and active ingredients against skin aging. Most of these ingredients are based on the recent findings that in aging the balance between collagen synthesis and collagen fragmentation is altered. Environmental factors inducing oxidative stress as well as decreased estrogen levels during menopause are important factors leading to these changes in connective tissue metabolism. Thus the major targets of anti-aging ingredients are oxidative stress and collagen metabolism. Evaluation of the effects of most of these ingredients has not been completed so far. In general scientifically evaluated anti-aging preparations can viewed as supplementing effective sunscreens and maximized skin care.