Nov 7, 2008 11:40 pm US/Eastern
Defeat Signs Of Aging With ... Copper?
Company Claims New Pillow Case Can Reduce Facial Lines, Wrinkles; Dermatologist To CBS 2 HD: It's Not Likely
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Americans spend billions of dollars a year in pursuit of the fountain of youth. Now some are saying the key to fighting fine lines and wrinkles could be held in mere pennies.
CBS 2 HD recently investigated a new category of products that claim to dramatically improve your complexion with copper.
We all know the importance of getting eight hours of beauty sleep. But now one company says it's what you sleep on that will help you turn back the hands of time.
"Wake up to better looking skin when you sleep on the luxuriously soft Spa Therapy Beauty Pillow with Cupron copper technology," goes the commercial.
No, you're not dreaming. She just said sleeping on a satin pillow case will make you look younger. The manufacturer says it's because it's also made with copper, which they claim is the key to fighting fine lines and wrinkles.
"All I did was wash my face and go to bed. It works while you sleep," a woman says in the commercial.
Dermatologist Eric Siegel said the copper theory has its merits.
"Copper is known to be a natural component of the skin," Siegel said.
For years doctors have recognized the healing properties of copper. Siegel says applied to a wound copper has been proven to reduce inflammation and stimulate collagen production.
"Studies have shown a nice benefit increasing skin healing time and decreasing the risk of scarring," Siegel said.
"Researchers have begun looking at copper peptides for skin rejuvenation," added Redbook Magazine beauty editor Krista Demaio.
Now these copper molecules are the latest ingredient in a number of anti-aging products.
"There's body creams, there's face serums and face creams," Demaio said.
But can sleeping on a special pillow case really cure crow's feet? Cupron, the company that makes the pillow case, started out making copper-infused medical dressings to heal wounds. And using the same technique with the pillow cases, Cupron says moisture from the skin causes the pillow case to release copper ions which then work to erase wrinkles. In two studies Cupron says they found that people who slept on the pillow case had far fewer wrinkles in just four weeks.
Siegel questions the effectiveness of the pillow case. While copper does indeed work well to heal wounds, Siegel says he's skeptical of its dramatic impact on wrinkles and says further studies are needed.
"They will have to prove this to me in a peer reviewed journal," Siegel said. "If you're skin layers are intact, the skin is normally a barrier which prevents things from getting into it."
And as for the copper creams and serums, Siegel cautions everyone: don't believe the hype.
"Most of these over-the-counter preparations improve the skin very little," Siegel said.
Siegel says unlike cotton, which tends to absorb moisture, satin keeps skin hydrated and that can help to reduce wrinkles.
By the way, one pillow case sells for $38.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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