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Can Preparation H Reverse Wrinkles?

Q. Is it true that Preparation H helps wrinkles on the face?

A. Decades ago Hollywood starlets were reputed to use the hemorrhoid cream Preparation H on their faces to smooth out wrinkles. The shark liver oil and live yeast cell derivative (LYCD) the product contained might even have had some benefit.

We’ll never know for sure. Preparation H has been reformulated. It no longer contains LYCD because the manufacturer could not produce studies demonstrating that LYCD would benefit healing of hemorrhoids. As a result, the FDA disallowed it. Any old reports about its power against wrinkles and other skin problems might not be relevant now.

In Canada, however, Preparation H may still contain LYCD, known there as BioDyne. Purchasing it online requires reading the ingredients list carefully, as not all Prep H sold in Canada contains BioDyne.

Susan told us:

“I have not used the “old formula” of Preparation H for myself; however, I have used it on my horses and always included it in my first-aid supplies at the barn.

“My mare once snagged her neck badly on a small-diameter cedar-tree limb that was incompletely cut and sticking out on a fence post. It was quite deep. After I filled the wound completely with the Prep. H just a few times, it healed completely, leaving no indication of the wound — no scar or anything.

“I was disappointed to read years ago about the formulation being changed to eliminate the shark liver oil and the LYCD. The new product did not heal as well as the old.”

If you enjoy reading about home remedies, we encourage you to sign up for The People’s Pharmacy newsletter. It is free and arrives by email twice a week with information on our radio show and podcast, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and lots of home remedies and alternative approaches for common problems.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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