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.