Avage Review
What is Avage?
A prescription wirnkl treatment, Avage is made by Allergen, who is also responsible for botox. It claims to reduce wrinkles and skin discolorations. As we have seen with botox and other medically administered or prescription medications, they do tend to work for most people. But they also come with certain side effects, sometimes expected, sometimes not, which is why they're so tightly controlled.
Ingredients and Mechanism of Action:
Ingredients in Avage include tarzatrotene, benzyl alcohol, carbomer 934P, carbomer 1342, edentate disodium, medium chain triglycerides, mineral oil, purified water, sodium thiosulfate, sorbitan monooleate, and sodium hydroxide.
The first two ingredients and really the only ingredients that aren't just preservatives or fillers, are generally used to treat acne vulgaris. And both, as we know, have been connected to dryness, irritation, redness, and other side effects. However, neither have been connected to greater skin production or otherwise ways that could contribute to the reduction of wrinkles, brown spots, pigmentations, etc. If we saw vitamin A, it could be said that it increased cell turnover, even though it simultaneously irritated the skin. But it doesn't even have that, and vitamin A has not really been connected to reducing the effects of aging.
Overall Impression of Avage:
Avage could certainly be used as a prescription acne treatment. After all, you will not find tarzatrotene in any over the counter options. But it has no indications for aging or wrinkle reduction, or even for the reduction of discolored skin. The risks far outweigh the aging benefits with this product, because there are no anti aging benefits to begin with!
