Mercury, long known as a toxic substance, is making a comeback in skin products, and dermatologists should familiarize themselves with both the dangers and the availability of this all-too-common cosmeceutical ingredient.

The ancient Egyptians and Romans used mercury to lighten the skin and in a variety of ointments, and the Greeks and Egyptians used it to... »

Native to South America, particularly the Amazon River and its tributaries and estuaries (J. Agric. Food Chem. 2006;54:8,598-603), the açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) has become a subject of great interest in recent years, because its fruit is believed by many to boast significant antioxidant capacity.

    Photo courtesy Decio... »

Oleuropein is a phenolic compound derived from the leaves and oil of the olive tree Olea europaea as well as the leaves of the privet shrub. In the ancient world, olive oil was viewed as an essential substance and has been used for centuries in a wide variety of cutaneous treatments. Ancient Greeks bathed with olive oil (Phytother. Res. 2003;17:987-1,000),... »

Research on the potential cutaneous benefits of phloretin began more than 20 years ago, when two botanically derived flavonoids - phloretin and the structurally related compound nordihydroguaiaretic acid - were found to strongly inhibit keratinocyte growth. »

Senna alata is a tropical shrub that belongs to the Fabaceae family, and is native to Central America and the Caribbean.Photo credit: Courtesy Forest & Kim Starr

Senna alata, also known as Cassia alata (J. Ethnopharmacol. 2003;86:167-71), as well as Candle Bush and similar names such as Candelabra Bush, Empress Candle Plant, Candle Plant, and... »

Dermatologists have known for years that collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin decline in concentration with advancing age. »

Everyone in the skin care world is talking about sirtuins. Studies have shown that resveratrol activates sirtuins, and sales of resveratrol have risen. »