Do you doubt those scientific-sounding claims on skin creams? Mathew M. Avram, MD, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Dermatology Laser & Cosmetic Center, says we should keep an open mind on so-called ‘cosmeceutical’ products that claim to prevent skin ageing. The truth is we just don’t know if they work or not. Many claims can’t be verified (although that doesn’t mean they’re not true), Mathew reports in the latest edition of the Tufts Nutrition Newsletter. While some beneficial substances are too large to penetrate the top layer of the skin, others, such as antioxidants, are likely to have more plausible benefits. He has no doubt, however, that a healthy diet, exercising and avoiding overexposure to the sun will all be reflected in our skin.