Patent ID: 7470438

Claim:
A method for combating cutaneous signs of aging in a menopausal individual in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said individual exhibiting at least one cutaneous sign of aging selected from the group consisting of withered skin, UV-induced internal degradation of the skin, skin wrinkles, fine lines, flaccid skin, thinned skin, lack of skin elasticity and lack of skin tone, wherein said at least one sign of aging is caused by expression of metalloproteases in the extracellular matrix, a composition comprising from 0.00001 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one fruit extract of at least one plant of the Ericacea family selected from the group consisting of Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium angustifollium, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium arctostaphylos, Vaccinium caespitosum, Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium hirsutum, Vaccinium macrocarpum, Vaccinium ovatum, Vaccinium oxycoccus, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium uliginosum , and Vaccinium urceolatum , said amount effective to substantially inhibit expression of said metalloproteases in the extracellular matrix of said individual.