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Aging Skin
Acne
Eczema
Aging
Up until our 20s, aging is seen primarily in growth and development of our bodies. Past this point, the effects of
aging become visible in our skin. Chronological aging of our
skin is the result of chemical changes in the elastin and
collagen that make up our connective tissue. It is collagen
and elastin that provide skin with its elasticity and
firmness. As we age, we loose this elasticity and firmness.
As skin looses its elasticity and firmness, it becomes drier.
With age, the underlying fat in our skin is lost. With this
loss of fat and connective tissue, the skin begins to sag and
wrinkle. It looks and feels less supple.
At what age and how quickly our skin ages is different for
different people. This aspect of skin aging has much to do
with genetics. There are other factors associated with the
rate and age at which skin ages, called photoaging. Photoaging
refers to the long term effects of sun exposure on the skin.
Other lifestyle factors can be major contributors to skin
aging as well, including smoking.
There are a variety of signs that skin is aging. These
include:
1) Liver spots
These spots have nothing to do with the liver. They are
directly related to both age and photoaging. These spots have
the appearance of brown areas and are often found on the face,
hands, feet and back - the areas most often exposed to the
sun.
2) Telangiectasias
Also called broken capillaries, these are dilated facial blood
vessels and are often caused by sun exposure. These are
treatable by a dermatologist.
3) Seborrheic keratoses
These look like brown or black raised spots on the skin, but
can also resemble a wart. These are not cancerous or
precancerous and can be removed by a dermatologist.
4) Actinic keratoses
These look similar to seborrheic keratoses, but could be more
dangerous as they may be a precursor to squamous cell
carcinoma.
5) Wrinkles
Wrinkles are the result of changes in the elastic tissue of
skin due to exposure to the sun, gravity, or repeat motion of
the skin. Wrinkles can be treated by a dermatologist with
dermatologic surgery.
Anti Aging Skin Care
Moderate manifestations of aging on the skin can be
effectively treated with topical treatments, such as gels and
anti-aging skin creams. Topical treatments can include:
1) Tretinoin
This is part of the vitamin A family and is the only
prescription treatment approved by the FDA for the treatment
of wrinkles, rough skin and blotchy skin pigmentation
associated with sun exposure.
2) Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)
These products are derived from a number of dairy and fruit
products and are often used in combination with tretinoin for
treatment of mildly sun damaged skin.
3) Temporary relief
Many over the counter products are available that contain
retinols - a member of the vitamin A family, AHAs, anti
oxidants and moisturizers. Anti oxidants often rely on
vitamins C and E that help to repair cells damaged by the
effects of sun exposure and smoking.
Talk to a dermatologist about what anti aging skin creams and treatments are most
suitable for your aging skin. A number of surgeries and
treatments are available for extremely damaged skin. Learn
more about cosmetic surgery.
Read about Botox treatments.
The American Academy of
Dermatology has developed an excellent resource for information about
acne and skin
diseases. Excellent resources and research articles
on
skin conditions can be found online at the Archives of
Dermatology. |
