What is an anti-aging cream?

It's basically a cosmetic term that assumes a cream can reduce wrinkles and age spots while resurfacing the skin. There are many cosmetic creams (not drugs) on the market that have anti-aging properties and antioxidants. I have to say, "buyer, beware." Vitamin C is an antioxidant. In topical form, data that suggests that it falls into the category of an anti-aging cream, but I think more studies really need to be done on it. The only tried and true anti-aging creams are prescribeable ones containing things like retinoids. Those are basically a vitamin A derivative. The one everyone probably knows about is called Retin-A. It's used for acne, but it can also be used to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, retexturize the skin, and decrease aging spots. There is another one called Renova cream which is a form of Retin-A, but it's more for anti-aging and less for acne. Its chemical name is tretinoin, which is similar to the oral isotretinoin that's strictly for acne. The only true anti-aging cream, if I really had to pick one, would be a sunblock, because sun exposure is the number one cause of aging skin. I would rather have a patient buy a really good sunblock than one of those creams. There are some issues that are more common in dark ethnic skin, but in general, the principles of skin care go across the board.