Aging Skin
Also known
as: Actinic Elastosis and Photoaging
What is it?
Skin undergoes
normal changes with age. The most noticeable changes are
dryness, wrinkles, changes in color and texture, and an
increased number of benign (non-cancerous) and
pre-cancerous growths. Some people who spend a lot of time
in the sun experience a premature aging of the skin.
Who gets it?
Everyone’s skin
changes with age. People with sun damage often see more
dramatic effects than those who protect themselves from
the sun. The fairer the skin, the more visible the effects
of photoaging.
What causes
it?
As we age, the
skin becomes thinner. This is because the underlying fat,
so abundant at infancy, is slowly lost. The skin’s
connective tissue, called collagen and elastin, undergoes
changes, causing the skin to lose firmness and become dry.
The sweat- and oil-secreting glands in the skin also
decrease, which makes it harder for the skin to hold
moisture. The blood vessels naturally become more fragile,
so they are more likely to rupture and leak into the skin.
Effects of aging on the skin may also be attributed to
damage caused by oxygen-free radicals. Free radicals are
the waste products that result from all the chemical
reactions that normally occur in the body. Oxygen-free
radicals can damage cells and are believed to accelerate
cancers and age-related diseases. Skin changes can also be
caused by years of sun damage, poor nutrition, high stress
levels, exposure to environmental pollution, and
destructive lifestyle choices, such as cigarette smoking
or alcohol and drug abuse.
What are the
symptoms?
The symptoms of
aging skin include dryness, itchiness, thinning or
thickening of the skin, wrinkles and fine lines, areas of
hyperpigmentation (called age or liver spots), and a
mottled appearance. The skin may take more time to heal
when injured. Blood vessels are easier to see through the
thinning skin, also because they become dilated with age.
These blood vessels may be visible as red dome-like
formations on the skin (cherry angiomas), or as broken
capillaries on the face (telangietasias). Many people
develop senile or actinic purpura, which are purplish
spots or patches on the skin created by small hemorrhages
in the skin. Older skin has less protection against sun
damage because protective cells called melanocytes
decrease with age. Aging skin is also more likely to
develop a variety of benign and pre-cancerous growths,
such as seborrheic and actinic keratoses. Seborrheic
keratoses often have a rough, brown appearance, and look
like a wart. They are benign. Actinic keratoses are small,
scaly growths on areas of the skin that have received sun
exposure. They are an early sign of skin cancer.
How is it
diagnosed?
Any changes in
the skin should be checked by a dermatologist for signs of
cancer or pre-cancer. Your doctor may need to take a
tissue sample, called a biopsy, for examination under a
microscope. Most symptoms of aging skin require no
diagnosis.
What is the
treatment?
Pharmaceutical
and cosmetic companies have responded to the public’s
desire to slow down or mask the aging process with a great
number of treatments. Many of these are classified as
antioxidants, which are substances that are thought to
protect the body cells from the damaging effects of
oxygen-free radicals. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C,
E, and betacarotene, and are available in ointment, cream,
lotion, and oral supplement forms. Some people use a
vitamin-A based cream, or creams containing alpha-hydroxy
acids (AHAs), to diminish the appearance of age spots and
wrinkles. Laser treatments and bleaching are other options
for removing age spots. Frequent moisturizing with an
over-the-counter cream or lotion can relieve dry, itchy
skin, but your doctor may prescribe a special lotion for
severe dryness and itching. Other conditions of aging
skin, such as seborrheic keratoses, broken blood vessels,
and purpura require no treatment. However, they can be
removed or their appearance diminished if they become
irritated or are unsightly. Actinic keratoses are removed
from the skin.
Self-care tips
Unfortunately,
no one has figured out how to stop the aging process or
reverse its effects. However, you can reduce the signs of
aging in your skin by avoiding sun exposure during the
peak hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wearing sunscreen
with a SPF of at least 15, a hat, and light, protective
clothing. Follow a healthy lifestyle that includes a
variety of nutritious foods, especially those rich in
antioxidants; drinking plenty of water; and exercising
regularly. Yearly skin exams are an effective way to catch
new or changing skin grows in the early stages. See your
doctor any time you notice an existing skin growth has
changed in size, shape, or color.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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