Nicholas Perricone
Encyclopedia
Dr. Nicholas Perricone (icon), MD
, is a dermatologist who has written several books, primarily on the subjects of weight loss and maintaining the appearance of youth
. Dr. Perricone is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Michigan State University
’s College of Human Medicine
, from which he received his MD. He has appeared in two special programs on PBS
. Dr. Perricone sells his own line of skin care products.
Perricone presents himself as a radical in the dermatological community, repeatedly encouraging his audience to challenge the status quo
. He compares his work relating diet to skin care with Ignaz Semmelweis
's work on hand washing and the spread of disease in the 1800s.
, supplements, and topical
s. The books share some general recommendations, but each contains unique material.
, and new topicals. There is no evidence for the efficacy of his claims.
can be increased to stay healthy, strong, and energetic, while keeping skin soft, smooth, and supple. He claims that this can help reverse osteoporosis, restore bone structure and muscle mass, revitalize brain cells, reduce the chances of heart disease
and cancer, elevate mood, manage blood sugar
, and slim down and stay trim.
s, and focuses on an extensive diet. He claims that the diet can be helpful in losing weight and smoothing wrinkles, as well as improving one's mood and decelerating aging. New topical recommendations are also included, the primary one being a neuropeptide-based serum exclusively sold by Perricone's company that currently costs $570 per bottle (a 3-month supply), far more than any of Perricone's other products.
, especially (though not exclusively) those who have older, drier skin that does not respond well to treatments intended for oily adolescent
skin. The book is particularly notable for attacking the widely held opinion in the dermatological community that there is, with few exceptions, no correlation between diet and acne, high intake of iodine
is an acknowledged exception. Perricone claims that foods do have anti-inflammatory (and therefore anti-acne) and pro-inflammatory effects; which foods fall into which category is somewhat counterintuitive. For example, apple
s are in the anti-inflammatory food list, while banana
s are considered pro-inflammatory. This book's paperback version was released under the title "Clear Skin Prescription" in 2004.
, cancer
, and diabetes. Many of the recommendations, such as a diet high in fish
, are repeated from The Wrinkle Cure. The book became a #1 New York Times bestseller.
(primarily for its omega-3 fatty acid
s), supplementation of lipoic acid
, and topical application of Vitamin C
ester and DMAE.
Perricone, N. V. Age-less Face, Age-less Mind Random House November 2007
Perricone, N. V. Dr. Perricone’s 7 Secrets to Health, Beauty and Anti-aging Random House November 2006
Perricone, N.V, The Perricone Weight Loss Diet Daily Personal Journal: Random House, December 2005
Perricone, N.V, The Perricone Weight Loss Diet: Random House, September 2005
Perricone, N.V., The Perricone Promise, New York: Warner Books, October 2004
Perricone, N. The Acne Prescription. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.
Perricone, N. The Perricone Prescription. New York: HarperCollins, 2002.
Perricone, N. The Perricone Prescription Personal Journal. New York: HarperCollins, 2002.
Perricone, N. The Wrinkle Cure. US: Rodale/Reach, 2000. Hard Cover edition, US: Warner Books, 2001.Trade Paper edition
Preuss HG, Echard B, Bagchi D, Perricone N, Zhuang C: Enhanced Insulin-hypoglycemic activity in rats consuming a specific glycoprotein extracted from maitake mushrrom. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (Ahead of print) 2007.
Perricone NV, Echard B, Preuss HG: Blood pressure lowering effects of niacin-bound chromium in sucrose-fed rats: renin-angiotensin system. J Inorg Bio 102:1541-1548, 2008.
Preuss HG, Echard B, Yasmin T, Bagchi D, Perricone NV, Yamashita E: Astaxanthin lowers blood pressure and lessens the activity of the renin-angiotensin system in Zucker Fatty Rats (Accepted by the Journal of Functional Foods) Nov 08.
Perricone, N.V. Inflammation, Aging and Age-Related Diseases. Skin & Aging 2002 Dec:28-33.
Perricone, N.V. Topical 5% alpha lipoic acid cream in the treatment of cutaneous rhytides. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2000 May/June; 20(3):218-222.
Perricone, N., Nagy, K., Horvath, F., Dajko, G., Uray, I., Zs.-Nagy, I. The hydroxyl free radical reactions of ascorbyl palmitate as measured in various in vitro models. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 262, (1999), 661-665.
Perricone, N., Nagy, K., Horvath, F., Dajko, G., Uray, I., Zs.-Nagy, I. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) protects proteins against the hydroxyl free radical-induced alterations: rationale for its geriatric topical application. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 29, (1999), 45-56.
Perricone, N.V. Aging: Prevention and intervention; Part 1: Antioxidants. Journal of Geriatric Dermatology 1997; 5 (1);1-2; part 2. Hormone replacement therapy. 5 (2);107-110; Part 3: Pharmacologic cognitive enhancers: dermatologic indications. Skin & Aging 1998 Feb; 6 (2);68-74.
Perricone, N.V., DiNardo, Joseph C. Photoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of topical glycolic acid. Dermatologic Surgery 1996 May; 22(5):435-437.
Perricone, N.V. Treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae by topical application of glycolic acid. Cutis 1993 Oct; 52(4).
Perricone, N.V. An alphahydroxy acid acts as an antioxidant. Journal of Geriatric Dermatology 1993 Summer; 1(2):101-104.
Perricone, N.V. The photoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of topical ascorbyl palmitate. Journal of Geriatric Dermatology 1993 Spring; 1(1):5-10.
Perricone, N.V. Treatment of psoriasis with topical ascorbyl palmitate – Abstract. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1991 June.
Kleinsmith, D.M., Perricone, N.V. Common skin problems in the elderly. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine 1989 Feb:189-211.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, is a dermatologist who has written several books, primarily on the subjects of weight loss and maintaining the appearance of youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
. Dr. Perricone is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
’s College of Human Medicine
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine is an academic division of Michigan State University , and grants the Doctor of Medicine degree. CHM was founded in 1964 as the first community-integrated medical school, and has a program that emphasizes patient-centered care and a...
, from which he received his MD. He has appeared in two special programs on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
. Dr. Perricone sells his own line of skin care products.
Perricone presents himself as a radical in the dermatological community, repeatedly encouraging his audience to challenge the status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
. He compares his work relating diet to skin care with Ignaz Semmelweis
Ignaz Semmelweis
Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. Described as the "savior of mothers", Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics...
's work on hand washing and the spread of disease in the 1800s.
Books
Perricone has written several books. These all take a similar "three-tiered" approach to skin problems. The three tiers are dietDiet (nutrition)
In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. Dietary habits are the habitual decisions an individual or culture makes when choosing what foods to eat. With the word diet, it is often implied the use of specific intake of nutrition for health or weight-management...
, supplements, and topical
Topical
In medicine, a topical medication is applied to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes such as the vagina, anus, throat, eyes and ears.Many topical medications are epicutaneous, meaning that they are applied directly to the skin...
s. The books share some general recommendations, but each contains unique material.
Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin and Radiant Health at Every Age
Dr. Perricone explains nutrigenomics, an emerging field linking nutrition and longevity, and describes an approach to activate age-reversing biological activity with "superfoods" like wild salmon, watercress, chia seeds, barley grass, cinnamon, cocoa); and supplements (e.g., vitamins K and D, astaxanthin, Pycnogenol).Ageless Face, Ageless Mind
Dr. Nicholas Perricone discusses AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products). Dr. Perricone explains potential methods to fight against AGEs with a three-part plan of attack that includes a nutritional program, targeted supplementsDietary supplement
A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, that may be missing or may not be consumed in sufficient quantities in a person's diet...
, and new topicals. There is no evidence for the efficacy of his claims.
7 Secrets to Beauty, Health and Longevity
Taking a holistic approach that taps into recent scientific developments, Dr. Nicholas Perricone argues that cellular metabolismMetabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
can be increased to stay healthy, strong, and energetic, while keeping skin soft, smooth, and supple. He claims that this can help reverse osteoporosis, restore bone structure and muscle mass, revitalize brain cells, reduce the chances of heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
and cancer, elevate mood, manage blood sugar
Blood sugar
The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL...
, and slim down and stay trim.
The Perricone Promise
Published in 2004, The Perricone Promise offers a new theory of aging circulating around neuropeptideNeuropeptide
Neuropeptides are small protein-like molecules used by neurons to communicate with each other. They are neuronal signaling molecules, influence the activity of the brain in specific ways and are thus involved in particular brain functions, like analgesia, reward, food intake, learning and...
s, and focuses on an extensive diet. He claims that the diet can be helpful in losing weight and smoothing wrinkles, as well as improving one's mood and decelerating aging. New topical recommendations are also included, the primary one being a neuropeptide-based serum exclusively sold by Perricone's company that currently costs $570 per bottle (a 3-month supply), far more than any of Perricone's other products.
The Acne Prescription
Published in 2003, The Acne Prescription is a follow-up to The Perricone Prescription targeted at those who are suffering from acneAcne vulgaris
Acne vulgaris is a common human skin disease, characterized by areas of skin with seborrhea , comedones , papules , pustules , Nodules and possibly scarring...
, especially (though not exclusively) those who have older, drier skin that does not respond well to treatments intended for oily adolescent
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
skin. The book is particularly notable for attacking the widely held opinion in the dermatological community that there is, with few exceptions, no correlation between diet and acne, high intake of iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
is an acknowledged exception. Perricone claims that foods do have anti-inflammatory (and therefore anti-acne) and pro-inflammatory effects; which foods fall into which category is somewhat counterintuitive. For example, apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s are in the anti-inflammatory food list, while banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s are considered pro-inflammatory. This book's paperback version was released under the title "Clear Skin Prescription" in 2004.
The Perricone Prescription
Published in 2002, The Perricone Prescription recommends a "rejuvenating" program of diet, exercise, and skin care that is intended not only to improve one's appearance, but also to increase energy and to reduce the risk of several major health problems, including heart diseaseHeart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and diabetes. Many of the recommendations, such as a diet high in fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, are repeated from The Wrinkle Cure. The book became a #1 New York Times bestseller.
The Wrinkle Cure
Published in 2001, The Wrinkle Cure suggests a diet and products that can allegedly slow, or even reverse, the visible aging process. Some of his most notable recommendations are a diet high in salmonSalmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
(primarily for its omega-3 fatty acid
Omega-3 fatty acid
N−3 fatty acids are essential unsaturated fatty acids with a double bond starting after the third carbon atom from the end of the carbon chain....
s), supplementation of lipoic acid
Lipoic acid
Lipoic acid , also known as α-lipoic acid and Alpha Lipoic Acid is an organosulfur compound derived from octanoic acid. LA contains two vicinal sulfur atoms attached via a disulfide bond and is thus considered to be oxidized...
, and topical application of Vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
ester and DMAE.
The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet
Published in 2005, The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet describes how a version of the face-lift diet introduced in previous books can also be helpful in losing weight without losing body tone. New supplement regimens are introduced along with an updated version of the salmon-rich Perricone diet, as well as several new recipes.List of books
Perricone, N. V. Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin and Radiant Health at Every Age Atria Books September 2010Perricone, N. V. Age-less Face, Age-less Mind Random House November 2007
Perricone, N. V. Dr. Perricone’s 7 Secrets to Health, Beauty and Anti-aging Random House November 2006
Perricone, N.V, The Perricone Weight Loss Diet Daily Personal Journal: Random House, December 2005
Perricone, N.V, The Perricone Weight Loss Diet: Random House, September 2005
Perricone, N.V., The Perricone Promise, New York: Warner Books, October 2004
Perricone, N. The Acne Prescription. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.
Perricone, N. The Perricone Prescription. New York: HarperCollins, 2002.
Perricone, N. The Perricone Prescription Personal Journal. New York: HarperCollins, 2002.
Perricone, N. The Wrinkle Cure. US: Rodale/Reach, 2000. Hard Cover edition, US: Warner Books, 2001.Trade Paper edition
Peer-reviewed articles
Celleno L, Perricone NV, Preuss HG: Effect of a dietary supplement containing standardized Phaseolus vulgaris extract on the body composition of overweight men and women. Int J Med Sci 4:45-52, 2007.Preuss HG, Echard B, Bagchi D, Perricone N, Zhuang C: Enhanced Insulin-hypoglycemic activity in rats consuming a specific glycoprotein extracted from maitake mushrrom. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (Ahead of print) 2007.
Perricone NV, Echard B, Preuss HG: Blood pressure lowering effects of niacin-bound chromium in sucrose-fed rats: renin-angiotensin system. J Inorg Bio 102:1541-1548, 2008.
Preuss HG, Echard B, Yasmin T, Bagchi D, Perricone NV, Yamashita E: Astaxanthin lowers blood pressure and lessens the activity of the renin-angiotensin system in Zucker Fatty Rats (Accepted by the Journal of Functional Foods) Nov 08.
Perricone, N.V. Inflammation, Aging and Age-Related Diseases. Skin & Aging 2002 Dec:28-33.
Perricone, N.V. Topical 5% alpha lipoic acid cream in the treatment of cutaneous rhytides. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2000 May/June; 20(3):218-222.
Perricone, N., Nagy, K., Horvath, F., Dajko, G., Uray, I., Zs.-Nagy, I. The hydroxyl free radical reactions of ascorbyl palmitate as measured in various in vitro models. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 262, (1999), 661-665.
Perricone, N., Nagy, K., Horvath, F., Dajko, G., Uray, I., Zs.-Nagy, I. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) protects proteins against the hydroxyl free radical-induced alterations: rationale for its geriatric topical application. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 29, (1999), 45-56.
Perricone, N.V. Aging: Prevention and intervention; Part 1: Antioxidants. Journal of Geriatric Dermatology 1997; 5 (1);1-2; part 2. Hormone replacement therapy. 5 (2);107-110; Part 3: Pharmacologic cognitive enhancers: dermatologic indications. Skin & Aging 1998 Feb; 6 (2);68-74.
Perricone, N.V., DiNardo, Joseph C. Photoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of topical glycolic acid. Dermatologic Surgery 1996 May; 22(5):435-437.
Perricone, N.V. Treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae by topical application of glycolic acid. Cutis 1993 Oct; 52(4).
Perricone, N.V. An alphahydroxy acid acts as an antioxidant. Journal of Geriatric Dermatology 1993 Summer; 1(2):101-104.
Perricone, N.V. The photoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of topical ascorbyl palmitate. Journal of Geriatric Dermatology 1993 Spring; 1(1):5-10.
Perricone, N.V. Treatment of psoriasis with topical ascorbyl palmitate – Abstract. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1991 June.
Kleinsmith, D.M., Perricone, N.V. Common skin problems in the elderly. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine 1989 Feb:189-211.
External links
- Dr. Perricone's official website
- Dr. Perricone's blog
- Perricone on Oprah Video, transcript and highlights.
- A Skeptical View of the Perricone Prescription