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Top Stories
Serious Medical Condition May Be Masquerading as Age
Spot
To
the untrained eye, a brownish circle on the hand of
a man in his 60s may appear to be nothing more than
an age spot or other unwanted, but harmless, sign of
aging. Dermatologists want people to know that some
signs and symptoms associated with aging skin
indicate an underlying medical condition. That
rough, reddish patch on the face could be more than
sun-drenched dry skin. An age spot that grows,
flattens, darkens, and becomes irregularly shaped
may not be an age spot. It could be skin cancer. To
learn more about signs of aging that can indicate an
underlying medical condition and to see if you can
tell whether the spots on a person’s hand are really
age spots or something else, visit the
AgingSkinNet home page.
More than Genes Cause Skin to Age
Did you know that more than your genes are causing
your skin to age? While genes play a key role, some
signs of aging are caused by what we do.
Overexposure to the sun, repetitive facial
expressions, and even how we rest our head on the
pillow can prematurely age our skin. To learn what
signs of aging are caused by our genes and what you
can do to help prevent signs of premature aging,
read
Causes of Aging Skin.
Sun Damage Remains Invisible for Years
After getting badly sunburned, you do not suddenly
see deep wrinkles and leathery skin. The skin heals
giving the illusion that the body has repaired all
damage. What many people are surprised to learn is
that damage caused by the ultraviolet (UV) rays,
whether from a painful sunburn or incidental
exposure, accumulates and lies invisible beneath the
surface of the skin for years. UV photography
enables us to see the damage accumulating beneath
the surface of the skin years before the signs of
damage appear. To see actual patient photographs
that show: 1) what is visible to the naked eye and
2) what damage lies beneath the surface, go to
UV Photography Reveals Sun Damage.
SkinCarePhysicians.com Serves Up In-depth
Information
If
you are looking for easy-to-understand information
about any of these common skin conditions — acne,
aging skin, actinic keratoses, eczema, psoriasis,
rosacea, or skin cancer — be sure to visit the
Academy’s SkinCarePhysicians.com Web site. Within
this site, you will find information ranging from
skin care tips for acne-prone skin to how the
different stages of melanoma are treated. Standard
features include in-depth information about
treatment, how to tell when it is time to see a
dermatologist, and numerous patient photographs. To
ensure accuracy, all content is reviewed by a number
of dermatologists before it is posted. The next time
you are looking for information about one of these
skin conditions, be sure to visit
SkinCarePhysicians.com.
Actinic Keratoses: July Patient Education Feature
Treatment
for actinic keratoses (AKs) ranks as one of the most
frequent reasons people visit a dermatologist. Since
AKs are caused by cumulative sun exposure, summer is
an ideal time to make some simple lifestyle changes
that can help reduce your risk of developing this
common skin condition that can progress to squamous
cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Applying a
sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15
or more that protects against UVA and UVB rays plays
a key role. Be sure to apply the sunscreen about 20
minutes before you head outdoors. Avoiding tanning,
wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade are
other lifestyle changes that can help you reduce
your risk. For more information about AKs, visit the
July Patient Education Feature.
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