A while back, a patient who'd been receiving Botox treatments came to me with a worried look on her face. She had just started using a detoxifying skin cream and was concerned it would make the botox -- which contains botulinum toxin -- wear off faster.

Devotees of detox diets and spa treatments have long insisted that fasting or slathering yourself with mud and mineral salts can remove chemicals, pollutants and other vague "impurities" from the body. Now beauty companies have jumped on the bandwagon, claiming that their products also have detoxifying benefits (read more about it in this article).

My patient needn't have been concerned -- I don't know of any product on earth that can suck toxins out of the skin. Beauty companies love buzzwords like "detox" because they don't have any concrete meaning, but it's really all just marketing hype. I've seen other patients with new onset acne they got from taking detox vitamins after a few too many nights of hard drinking. The pills are supposed to help the liver break down alcohol, but they contain B vitamins that can cause breakouts.

The truth is that your body, including the skin, doesn't need to be detoxified. The body has its own amazing regenerative qualities and its internal organs do a pretty good job of removing impurities on their own. If you're worried about impurities, you're much better off supporting proper organ function by quitting smoking, keeping alcohol consumption down to a few drinks a week and getting regular exercise. You should also avoid processed foods and eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of vegetables.

That's not to say that all detox products are completely useless. Many of them actually contain beneficial antioxidants, which fight skin-aging free radicals that are triggered by smoking, sun exposure and pollution. Look for products that contain grape seed extract, green tea, coffeeberry, lycopene, or Coenzyme Q10. These antioxidants help minimize sun damage and can actually help prevent new wrinkles from forming. Apply twice daily or at least 30 minutes before sun exposure -- I layer mine under my sunscreen. Try Revaléskin CoffeeBerry Night Cream, Topix Replenix Caffeine Enhanced Green Tea Cream or Kiehl's Lycopene Facial Moisturizing Lotion.

Wishing you great skin!