Smooth Your Skin with a Cup of White Tea

Wrinkles are like birthdays. We'll deal with them, considering the alternative. But here's a potential new option for keeping face creases away: sipping white tea.

According to a recent lab study, extracts in white tea exert an anti-inflammatory effect that slows the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers -- those super-supportive intracellular structures that skin needs to stay firm and wrinkle-free.

Put the Kettle On
Okay -- so that's what happened in a lab dish. But can drinking tea really fight wrinkles? Research in human skin will be required to confirm it. In the cell study, though, the wrinkle-fighting effects of white tea extracts showed lots of promise. White tea exhibited almost 90 percent more collagen- and elastin-protective activity than the control did. (White tea may have special fat-thwarting powers, too.)

The War on Wrinkles
While research continues into how tea -- whether sipped or slathered on via lotions -- helps fight wrinkles, you'll want to stick with the proven protect-your-skin basics. That means avoiding sun during peak hours, covering up, and faithfully applying sunscreen every day -- even if it's cloudy. And here are a few more off-the-beaten-path ways to keep your complexion fresh and dewy:

• Feed your face. Get the lowdown on the best wrinkle-smoothing edibles.
• Chill out. Discover how being relaxed lets the rumples out of your face.
• Curl up in bed. Find out how skimping on sleep can affect your skin.

Try RealAge dermatologist and skin expert Dr. Amy Wechsler's 9-day plan for younger looking skin.