Skin conditions are so common these days that almost everyone is guaranteed to have one form or the other. What most people don’t know is that 80% of their skin conditions are caused by the sun. It is not only heat that reaches us from the sun. Other harmful rays known as Ultra Violet rays are also emitted and these are very dangerous for the skin. Naturally the ozone layer is supposed to filter the rays of the sun such that only a minimal amount of these harmful rays reach the earth, but because of the harmful gases we ourselves have been releasing into the atmosphere, the ozone layer has slowly been corroded leaving room for those rays to penetrate.

One of these skin conditions is actinic keratosis. This skin condition is characterized by rough and dry scaly patches on the skin. These patches are similar to lesions. This condition is a gradual process and once it develops it is because of years of constantly exposing yours skin to sunlight without protection. These spots can be the same color as your skin tone or they may be red or brown in color. Their size can vary from the size of a lead of pencil to the size of a quarter. Sometimes these lesions may grow in such a way that they form a horn like structure commonly referred to as cutaneous horn.

It is vital that anyone diagnosed with actinic keratosis should be under a doctor’s care. This is because this condition can gradually progress into cancer and when that happens a patient may not be able to spot the change. The most lethal skin cancer type called squamous carcinoma can result from the simplest of skin conditions like actinic keratosis. Generally if you have actinic keratosis that means you have damaged skin as a result of over exposure to the sun. This presents an opportunity for melanoma to develop. Melanoma is considered a very dangerous form of skin cancer because of its ability to spread to other organs as well.

The origin of the name actinic keratosis is used to describe what happens to the skin at these stages. The actinic part of it explains that a chemical reaction occurs in the skin as a result of radiation from the sun while the keratosis part of it means that the skin becomes hard and rough as a result of these radiations.

Actinic Keratosis Further Reading:

Hyperkeratosis

Early Treatment is Essential

Ag3derm

People who are 40 years old or above and have light skin colors are prone to having actinic keratoses. Teenagers can also be affected by this kind of condition. In order to keep away from having cancer cells developed, it is very vital to have these spots removed off the skin. If you are going to ignore this skin condition, it is very likely that your health is at stake. However, having actinic keratosis does not automatically mean that you will have cancer cells.

You might be wondering about how to know if you have actinic keratosis. The appearance of actinic keratosis in a person may not be the same as how it is for another person. Given the fact that the spots may appear to have the same color as that of your skin, it is normal that this skin condition is not immediately noticed. Since there are times when the spots are so tiny, noticing them can be difficult.

The color of the spots brought about by actinic keratosis may range from hues of red to brown to hues of pink to gray. The related part of the skin can also be rough. Most commonly, the spots appear on the scalp of people who are bald, ears, nose, lips, back of the hands, arms, etc. – those areas of the body that receive overexposure to the sun. Apart from its slow growth, it can be noted that its reappearance is a misnomer because it can appear again on the very same area of the skin. It has to be noted that actinic keratosis entails bleeding and itchiness.

The appearance of actinic keratosis may be the effect of overexposure to the sun for the past few years. The scaly look of the skin can be pointed to the overexposure to the sun that damages the skin’s outermost layer. The sudden rough texture of the skin can also be pushed through by the noticeable spots.

Even though it is not a condition that is passed through the genes nor is it a disease that is contagious, it is still best to seek the assistance of a physician if there are signs of actinic keratosis being apparent on your skin. Those who have fair skin tones and are abruptly burnt under the sun are the ones who are most likely to experience this skin condition. Do not be doubtful on consulting your doctor in order to learn what the center of the problem is and to understand what to be undergone through to remove the precancerous spots.

Actinic Keratosis Further Reading:

Hyperkeratosis

Early Treatment is Essential

Ag3derm

Actinic Keratosis

The lesions of actinic keratosis will commence as a spot of increased vascularity and the facade of the skin will become rough and coarse.  The primary key to visual diagnosis of actinic keratosis early lesions is the texture of the skin of an individual. On affected parts, the roughened skin will bit by bit form a yellow crust. The removal of this crust will typically direct to bleeding.  Lesions of actinic keratosis are, more often than not, small; nevertheless, the extent of the actinic keratosis from one person to another definitely varies.  A person may have an occurrence of a few lesions or may experience several lesions on the whole of their forehead, scalp, or temples.  Certainly, these lesions can be seen on other parts of the body in some instances but they are most commonly visible in areas of the face and head.  Lesion occurrences that are more serious will involve many lesions and they may become swollen and even leak, which often indicates malignancy.  Actinic keratosis is linked to squamous cell carcinoma; therefore, this condition can be very critical.  After incident of  actinic keratosis lesions for quite a few years, a proportion of lesions may deteriorate into squamous cell carcinoma.  Single lesion of actinic keratosis over a year will have a not that high degeneration rate into squamous carcinomas, but those who have many lesions outbursts over a year will have a higher percentage advancing into these carcinomas.  Individuals who have actinic keratosis must be carefully examined by dermatologists.

Actinic keratosis lesions can be treated by professionals through definitive treatment. However, it may be postponed for patients who experience spontaneous remission and shows only few external lesions.  Preventing exposure to the sun is idyllic for individuals with actinic keratosis, even if actinic keratoses are in remission.  Generally, cryotherapy treatment is applied for superficial lesions.  Individuals suffering from actinic keratosis can also use acid peels and sun screens. Nonetheless, a medical professional ought to be consulted before using any variety of treatment.

Actinic Keratosis Further Reading:

Hyperkeratosis

Early Treatment is Essential

Ag3derm skin cream

Actinic Keratosis

The fact that AK’s develop as a result of some development on keratinocytes make it similar to squamous cell carcinoma. This correlation make some researchers suspect that the increase in the development of actinic keratosis on the skin might probably be due to squamous cell carcinoma growth,  and considering the fact that the average growth of both actinic keratoses and melanoma skin cancer over a period of 10 years as been put between 6-10%, one can actually say that both actinic keratosis and non melanoma skin cancer can be dealt with in the same way.

The rate of progression of actinic keratosis has been found out to be less than what was observed for basal cell carcinoma, however it has also been noticed that both squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma often occur on areas of the body where actinic keratosis are growing. Since keratosis actinic as well as non melanoma skin cancer can develop over the years through consistent exposure to sunlight, it cab be adduce that one can actually trigger or lead to the other.

Actinic keratosis can be describe as a precursor to the other because it may progress to a non melanoma skin disorder. It should be noted that the severity of actinic keratosis does not necessarily means it will develop into a non melanoma skin cancer. Some actinic keratosis will not develop into skin cancer and such could be stopped on reasonable time. Those that will develop into a non melanoma skin cancer can be life threatening especially when not diagnosed on time. Most treatments offered for actinic keratosis are offered in order to stop its progression into non melanoma skin cancer. It is ideal to take up proper diagnosis before concluding whether the infection in actinic keratosis or skin cancer.

Actinic Keratosis Further Reading:

Hyperkeratosis

Early Treatment is Essential

Ag3derm skin cream

Actinic Keratosis

Squamous cells are often flat, and thin, hence they can easily be damaged by the UV rays of the sun. Once you take your actinic keratosis infections for granted then you will likely develop squamous cell carcinoma. The squamous cells are naturally present in the nails as well as some other parts of the body. If you can prevent such cells from being damaged, then you can stop skin cancer at an early stage.

It could be quite dangerous to expose an infant to some forms of actinic keratosis treatments such as cryosurgery, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser surgery, however topical corticosteroids as well as creams can be applied for younger people. Infants can take some oral treatments while adults which have just started out can go for the advanced forms of actinic keratosis treatments.

5-fluorouracil is one of the topical treatments which can be used to deal with actinic keratosis and such treatment will prevent further reproduction of abnormal skin cells that result in actinic keratosis infections. Though this cream could be a little harsh bust its effects are satisfactory as it only targets the unwanted cells leaving out the healthy cells. The use of immiquimod is another wonderful way of dealing with actinic keratosis, this cream can be described as an immune response modifier, though the cream can cause some discomfort but such can be endured for the lasting wonderful success created.

Electrocautery and laser surgery are some of the most advanced forms of treating actinic keratosis, laser therapy involves the use of CO2 or some other gases , YAG lasers can also be used in dealing with actinic keratosis. Electrocautery procedures can be used to burn off affected skin parts {this cannot be used on younger kids}.

Actinic Keratosis Further Reading:

Hyperkeratosis

Early Treatment is Essential

Ag3derm skin cream

A person’s skin color is determined by the amount of melanin he or she produces. Melanin is the skin’s shield against too much ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet rays destroy skin cells and DNA and this can also be cancerous.   When these melanin are already used, they settle under the skin and they darken, thus age spots.

Consulting a dermatologist is a must to be sure that what you have is age spots, not pre cancerous spots. After the dermatologist or any skin care professional confirms it is age spots indeed, you can try the following treatments:

HOME MADE TREATMENTS

•    Make an apple cider and onion juice mixture. Apply to affected areas with cotton and leave for about half an hour.

•    Aloe vera can also be applied in liberal amounts on skin. Apply them twice a day and remain it on skin to dry for almost an hour.

•    Lemon juice has characteristics that can help in lightening age spots. Just apply newly squeezed lemon juice in the morning and in the evening, leaving it to dry for about thirty minutes. Just remember that if you have something to do outside, don’t apply lemon juice on your skin for it will easily burn.

•    You can also use castor grease. [Rub it on affected area with cotton two times a day.

Home made treatments however take time to be effective and they may not be effective for you at all. So, you may try more efficient alternatives.

OTHER TREATMENTS

•    Microdermabrasion/dermabrasion – as its name suggest, this involves abrading the skin or peeling it off for new skin cells to emerge.     It takes long for the skin to recover after this procedure.

•    Another means to remove age spots quickly is by chemical peels. Chemical peels use chemicals to remove old skin cells allowing the regeneration of new skin cells.

•    Laser treatments are probably the most effective and of course, expensive way to get rid of age spots. The good thing about laser treatment is that it does not damage neighboring cells. And it is almost painless.

If you already have gone through such procedures and eventually got rid of dark spots, its time to give your skin more concern. As always, prevent too much sun exposure. The use of any sun protection be it umbrella or sunscreens is recommended. This will help you to stop age spots from coming back.

Age Spots Further Reading:

Age Spot Removal at Home - In Depth Interview - Removed in 14 Days

Protecting yourself on vacation

Age Spots Websites:

Remove Age Spots - Skin Pigmentation - Ag3derm - Melasma Treatment

Age Spots

One of these titles is “solar lentigo”. As the term “solar” connotes, the sun is a pertinent factor for age spots. This pertinence of the sun is due to its outcomes on the skin and its eventual role in the formation of age spots. ‘Lentigo” is simply another term for freckle, although the term is actually derived from an Old Middle English word of the same name that is used before to specifically describe “lentil-shaped spots”. So, an age-spot can also be described as “lentil-shaped spots caused by the sun” from the context of the word “Solar lentigo”.

A more normal term for an age spot can be the word “Senile freckle”. Instead of openly indicating that aging is the cause of “AGE” spots, the term “senile freckle” is therefore a more sensitive term to use. Obviously, you should not make the mistake of using the term “senile freckle” for a ordinary freckle for you already comprehend the difference between the two. In the end, we are still pointing to the very exact age spot from the start.

“Lentigo senilis” is more of a medical term than all of the other names of age spots. Doctors, nurses and all the other health professionals actually are educated and instructed to call this medical aberration as “lentigo senilis”, the authorized term. This is actually perfectly the same as “senile freckle” – just the Latin version. Despite sounding really skillful when using this term, I would still prefer to use “age spots” especially on a normal day-to-day basis.

Another commonly used term for age spots is the “liver spot”. This term has been quite in used for a very long time, and is in fact the term used well before we could have used “age spots” colloquially. Some people have mistakenly identified age spots as a medical condition that has something to do with the liver. Indeed, for quite some time in the past, liver alterations are believed to have caused age spots; thus, the term “liver spots” somehow prevailed.

Nevertheless, the presence of several names for age spots does not change the fact that an age spot is still and will always be an age spot. To avoid future regrets, solve this issue now.

Age Spots Further Reading:

Age Spot Removal at Home - In Depth Interview - Removed in 14 Days

Protecting yourself on vacation

Age Spots Websites:

Remove Age Spots - Skin Pigmentation - Ag3derm - Melasma Treatment

Age Spots

Now, if you are one of those people who already have developed these age spots and you are at the age of 40 and above, following the tips mentioned below can help lessen the color and affected areas of your dark spots.

•    Get medical recommendation from a dermatologist.  The dermatologist will conclude if they are really age spots or melanoma.

•    Too much exposure to the sun must be avoided.  Ultraviolet rays from the sun are at its highest levels during 10 in the morning up to 4 in the afternoon. Use an umbrella, sunscreen or sunblock if possible.

•    Increase fluid intake. Put more fruits and vegetables in your diet, specially the juicy and succulent ones.

•    If you want to undergo laser procedures, this may eliminate all previous age spots. However, this kind of treatment requires high maintenance.

There are also many procedures available to get rid of age spots. These procedures can be effective means of preventing age spot from getting worse. Some of these procedures are:

•    Laser therapy. Laser therapy will not affect the skin surface not affected by age spots. It only destroys the age spot. Laser treatment is less hurtful than other treatments. But this treatment costs a lot of dollars.

•    Cryotherapy. This uses extreme temperatures, in this case, extreme coldness in eliminating age spot cells. The downside of this therapy is that it can also destroy nearby skin cells not affected by age spots.

•    Dermabrasion. There are two varieties of dermabrasion available, namely microdermabrasion or the classic dermabrasion. Dermabrasion uses sanding or peeling|stripping|shedding] off the outermost layer of the skin. This could be painful for some people and leave skin raw looking in case of traditional dermabrasion.

•    Chemical Peels. Acids are used to shed the skin. Once the skin is peeled off, new skin develops. The most popular acid used for this kind of treatment is glycolic acid.

Age Spots Further Reading:

Age Spot Removal at Home - In Depth Interview - Removed in 14 Days

Protecting yourself on vacation

Age Spots Websites:

Remove Age Spots - Skin Pigmentation - Ag3derm - Melasma Treatment

Age Spots

But before we move on, do you know the actual cause of age spots? Our skins always have this automatic mechanism of replacing skins cells every once in a while, even if there is no actual skin damage whatsoever. Due to aging which leads to a decrease in the skin’s ability to still undergo this process, the deterioration of the skin becomes more forceful than its regeneration. If this happens, should you ever get your skin damaged even for a little, it would take a lot of time for the skin to recover, and thus age spots forms.

How then will we address this problem if the cause is an modification in our body’s physiologic performance? The answer is through the revitalization of the body’s physiologic processes and heightening the skin’s rate of deterioration. Now, in order to attain invigoration and boosting of our body’s physiologic processes, we have to be aware of the herbs that will make these possible through improving blood flow and aiding in skin cell repair and renewal.

The red clover, traditionally used before for a number of different ailments, can be used to remove age spots indirectly. This is due to the red clover’s diuretic property which enables it to excrete extra fluids or wastes from the body. Due to this power of the red clover, it is commonly combined with other medicines to better intensify blood flow and consequently, better invigorate the body’s physiologic functioning.

Likewise, the burdock plant, other than removing toxins from the body, is an herb that has the ability to cause diuresis. Just as the red clover does, this enhances the blood flow probably at a higher rate or efficiency than the red clover and is also reinforced by other medicines.

Unlike the two previously mentioned herbs, the milk thistle has a quite different function. Unlike the red clover and burdock that concentrates on the circulatory system, the milk thistle concentrates on the liver, utilizing silymarin to protect it and enhance its function. And it is common knowledge that the liver is one of the most important organs of the body especially due to its metabolism function. If we can improve a person’s metabolism, then the rate at which the body works itself would improve, thus revitalizing it and giving proper opportunity for the age spot to heal eventually.

But consider this: although you have already been taking these herbs for already quite some time, instant results should not be one of your expectations. This is because, to emphasize, these herbs effects are indirect – treating the hidden causes first. In addition, the body must first get accustomed to invigoration or revitalization and this process lasts for quite a long time.

Age Spots Further Reading:

Age Spot Removal at Home - In Depth Interview - Removed in 14 Days

Protecting yourself on vacation

Age Spots Websites:

Remove Age Spots - Skin Pigmentation - Ag3derm - Melasma Treatment

Age Spots

Age spots, also called sun spots are prevalent when one ages. They usually appear on skin areas which get the most solar exposure, namely the hands and the facial area. It can be concluded that aging is not only the factor when it comes to developing age spots. Damaged melanocytes are what causes age spots.

Skin cancer however is not only caused by sunlight. There is smoking tobacco, exposure to caustic chemicals like arsenic. Heredity is another factor. The three most common types of skin cancer are classified according to the skin cells they affect. These skin cancers are called squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. There are other types of skin cancers, but the three mentioned earlier are the most common forms.

Now, can a simple age spot develop to cancer? The answer is still uncertain, but since both age spots and skin cancer have a common factor, which is excessive exposure to the sun’s harmful rays, there could be a chance. It could be probable if age spots are ignored and they become worse because of ignorance.

The risk of dying from skin cancer is little because it can be detected early.  Wounds that do not heal, skin lacerations which change in color and size and moles with irregular shapes are the indicators of skin cancer. A mole which just appeared and is asymmetrical should be of great concern. Age spots obscure the discovery of melanoma so it became associated with it.

So what can you do to prevent skin cancer, and avoiding age spots from obscuring melanoma? First, you have to limit your sun exposure. The heat of the sun is at its peak during noontime, so try not to go out during those times. Having age spots gone can also lower your risks. Also wear sunscreens when you have to go out under the heat of the sun. Bringing an umbrella is a wise decision. You can prevent skin cancer if you do something about it.

Age Spots Further Reading:

Age Spot Removal at Home - In Depth Interview - Removed in 14 Days

Protecting yourself on vacation

Age Spots Websites:

Remove Age Spots - Skin Pigmentation - Ag3derm - Melasma Treatment

Age Spots