As we grow older, we see and feel certain changes in our skin, the body’s largest and most visible organ. It becomes drier, more wrinkled and spots and growths appear. The skin tends to heal more slowly.

Some of these changes are natural, unavoidable and harmless. Others are itchy or painful, and some such as skin cancers, are serious and require immediate medical attention. Many problems can be prevented whether avoidable or not, health endangering or merely cosmetically undesirable, most unwanted aging-associated skin problems can be addressed by therapies now available.

AGE SPOTS AND LIVER SPOTS

Age spots and liver spots are small darkened patches on the skin of older adults who have been regularly exposed to the sun over many years. They are invariably found on the backs of the hands, and arise as a result of the skin's defense mechanism against long-standing sun exposure. As pigment pools in some spots to protect the skin, the brown spots form. Solar lentigines (or lentigo) is a medical name for this naturally occurring condition. It is usually light complexioned people with a tendency to burn, rather than tan, who develop age spots in later years.

Treatment

To help patients with age spots and liver spots (hyperpigmentation) achieve more even skin tone, physicians may prescribe the use of skin bleaching products. Skin bleaches slow the production of melanin, causing dark spots to gradually fade and return to normal skin color. These skin medications must be applied regularly, usually twice a day to be effective. The skin lightening process may take several months to achieve the desired results.

The active ingredient in skin lightening products is called hydoquinone. The maximum prescription strength is 4% hydroquinone, which contains twice the amount of active ingredient as over-the-counter bleaches. Some hydroquinone products contain sunscreens or sunblock, so you don’t have to bother with applying a separate sun protection product. Hydroquinone may also be combined with glycolic acid for its skin moisturizing benefits. These creams, however, can neither prevent new spots from forming, nor are they effective at lightening most lesions

Treatment with lasers is also very effective. ADORA DAY SPA offers laser therapy which can help diminish the apperance of age spots. For more information, please call ADORA DAY SPA at (307) 773-8520 or visit www.adoradayspa.com.

SEBORRHEIC KERATOSES

Seborrheic keratoses are harmless, common skin growths that first appear during adult life. As time goes by, more growths appear. Some people have a very large number of them. Seborrheic keratoses appear on both covered and uncovered parts of the body; they are not caused by sunlight. The tendency to develop seborrheic keratosis is inherited.

Seborrheic keratoses are harmless and never become malignant. They begin as slightly raised, light brown spots. Gradually they thicken and take on a rough, warty surface. They slowly darken and may turn black. These color changes are harmless. Seborrheic keratoses are superficial and look as if they were stuck on the skin. Persons who have had several seborrheic keratoses can usually recognize this type of benign growth. However, if you are concerned or unsure about any growth, consult a dermatologist.

Treatment

Seborrheic keratoses can easily be removed in the office. However, the only reason for removing a seborrheic keratosis is if it is irritated, itches, or annoys you by rubbing against your clothes.

Often patients are concerned whether Medicare or their insurance will pay for removal of seborrheic keratoses. If a lesion ever bleeds, has intense itching or pain, or shows signs of inflammation, with swelling or redness, insurance will consider removal a medical necessity. Also if a lesion has grown or changed and there is a question about the diagnosis, removal and pathology would be covered.

WRINKLES

As skin ages, it loses its elasticity. Collagen and elastin, the tissues that keep the skin supple, weaken. The skin becomes thinner and loses fat, so that it looks less plump and smooth. While all these changes are taking place, gravity is also at work, pulling at the skin, causing it to sag.

Can wrinkles be avoided?

How wrinkled your skin becomes depends largely on how much sun you have been exposed to in your lifetime. The sun is the major cause of unwanted changes in the skin with aging. Cigarette smoking can also contribute to wrinkles.   Wrinkles also depend on your parents-the tendency to wrinkle is inherited.

The good news is some wrinkles can be prevented. To avoid wrinkles caused by the sun, beginning in childhood, always wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, a hat with a brim, and other protective clothing when in the sun. Don’t deliberately sunbathe and limit sun exposure between 10am and 3pm. If you have already sun-damaged your skin, you will still benefit from beginning sun protection as an adult. Over-the-counter “wrinkle” creams and lotions may help dry skin and make it feel better, but they do little or nothing to reverse wrinkles.

A warning to smokers about wrinkles

Aside from the more deadly consequences of smoking, smokers might also want to take into account the wrinkling effect that the unhealthy habit has upon their skin. Much in the way that overexposure to sunlight does, smoking causes thickening and fragmentation of elastin, which are the elastic fibers that are long and smooth in healthy skin. Smoking also diminishes the level of circulation estrogen in women to cause dryness and disintegration of skin tissues.

In addition, smoking reduces the amount of oxygen supplied to the skin by reducing circulation. Smoking also leads to a decrease in the formation of collagen, the skin's main structural component, and may reduce the water content of the skin. Furthermore, smoking compromises the skin's ability to fend off free radicals, the highly reactive substances that are present in tobacco smoke that cause cell damage. All of these factors taken separately and together, cause wrinkling.

Treatment

There are some promising treatments for aging skin.

• Retinoic acid, a cream that has been used successfully in treating acne, has been shown to improve the surface texture of the skin, reduce irregular pigmentation, and increase dermal collagen. It is currently the only treatment approved by the FDA as safe and effective for reversing some of the effects of sun damage. Alpha hydroxy acids also show promise in reversing some of the effects of the sun. Creases caused by facial expressions such a squinting, frowning or smiling, can be treated by a dermatologist, using what are called “dermal filters.”

• A naturally produced protein called BOTOX ® Cosmetic can also be used to “relax” the small muscles and thus eliminate fixed expression lines like frown markers. A small amount is injected into the affected muscle with a very fine needle. Tiny facial muscles are relaxed while the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled. There is minimal pain and normal daily activities are uninterrupted. Treatments last approximately 4-7 months.

ADORA DAY SPA offers BOTOX ® Cosmetic. For more information, call or visit (307) 773-8520 or www.adoradayspa.com .

 

For more information about BOTOX ® Cosmetic, please visit http://www.botox.com/site/consumers/home.asp

None of these remedies can guarantee eternally youthful skin, but they can improve the overall appearance of your skin. Severely wrinkled skin can be improved with surgery and/or lasers. Discuss your options with your dermatologist.        

VENOUS/STASIS Ulcers

The same sluggish blood flow that results in varicose veins can cause varicose ulcers, also known as venous ulcers. When a crack or a cut occurs in the skin of the leg, it may fail to heal because of poor blood flow. The injury can develop into an ulcer or a shallow wound that may contain pus or infection. The ulcers may last for months or even years, healing poorly.

Varicose ulcers often develop at the ankles. They may be accompanied by swelling and red, itchy, scaly skin around the ulcer. Another cause of ulcers on the legs is poor blood flow in the arteries. This condition is associated with medical disorders such as arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes.