As we get older our skin changes, and with those changes we wonder, What’s happening to my skin? As adults, we believe we shouldn’t be experiencing the torments of acne as we did as a teenager, or we notice brown spots that suddenly appear out of nowhere. We also worry about those days gone by when we used baby oil as tanning lotion. Here are the most common questions adults are asking their dermatologists. Acne Why am I experiencing acne now that I’m older? Acne usually occurs on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Adult acne is caused by a combination of several factors: hormones leading to excess oil secretion, faulty closing of the hair duct, and infection. Acne develops when a sebaceous gland, which is connected to a pore and contains a fine hair, becomes blocked with sebum, an oily substance made by the sebaceous glands that normally empties onto the skin’s surface through the opening of the pore. If a pore becomes clogged and prevents the sebum from reaching the surface of the skin, bacteria that normally lives on the skin begins to grow in the pore. These bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white blood cells that cause inflammation. When the wall of the clogged pore breaks down sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria seep into the nearby skin, leading to pimples. Here is a list of other situations that may cause a breakout: 1. Women: two to seven days before their menstrual period begins 2. Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin 3. Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars 4. Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity 5. Squeezing or picking at blemishes 6. Hard scrubbing of the skin How can I treat my acne? Although there are many remedies you can purchase at the local drugstore, consult your dermatologist first to determine what type of acne you have. He may then prescribe a medication specifically to meet your needs. The biggest breakthrough in acne treatment has been the development of topical retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A. Other acne products consist of the following ingredients: 1. Azelaic acid cream 2. Alpha-hydroxy acids (including glycolic acid, lactic acid, and gluconic acid) 3. Benzoyl peroxide 4. Topical antibiotics (gels, lotions, and solutions) 5. Antibiotic pills 6. Birth control (for women) 7. Accutane or Sotret for severe acne (women who choose this treatment must be on some type of birth control) Aside from medications, keep in mind that a healthy lifestyle can also prevent breakouts, such as: getting plenty of sleep, drinking a lot of water, and eating a balanced, healthy diet. Also consider cleaning items in your home that may be contain germs, such as: the phone, dirty towels, pillowcases and sheets Skin Types What type of skin do I have? There are six categories of skin types: 1. Dry 2. Somewhat dry 3. Normal 4. Somewhat oily 5. Oily 6. Combination. Skin type, which is determined by the amount of oil secretion, is hereditary. The different areas in the skin that produce oil and the amounts of oil produced are based on genetics. Some women classify themselves as having sensitive skin. Overexposure to the elements or overuse of products can lead to skin allergies or sensitivities. To avoid this, try to minimize the number of products you use and try to find products designated for sensitive skin whenever possible. Hyperpigmentation What are these brown spots on my skin? Hyperpigmentation comes in many forms, including freckles, melasma, liver spots, sun spots, acne scars or wounds. Hyperpigmentation results from too much abnormal melanin (dark brown to black pigment occuring in the hair, skin and iris of the eyes) within the superficial skin cells. The main causes of increased melanin production are acute sunburn and chronic sun exposure. The second most common cause is hormonal change as a result of pregnancy, oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. Another cause of hyperpigmentation is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that occurs after a wound or blemish heals. Cleansing How many times a day should I wash my face? Cleansing is essential for your skins long-term health, however, cleansing can strip your skins protective oils that act as natural barriers to the elements. Washing your face any more than twice daily can lead to dry, irritated skin. When cleaning your face, use tepid water and a gentle cleanser if you have sensitive skin. If you have oily skin, do not be tempted to wash your face when it gets oily throughout the day. Try using oil blotting papers instead. Here’s a clear way to cleanse your face: 1. Choose a cleanser that is formulated for your skin type; 2. wash your hands before you cleanse your face; 3. splash your face with warm water (hot water will stimulate and expand facial blood vessels, which can give you a flushed appearance); 4. work the cleanser into a lather, then gently massage it into your skin in a circular motion with your fingertips do not forget your hairline and neck; 5. remove the cleanser by splashing your neck and face with warm water; 6. blot your face with a clean towel (don not rub your face, it could cause irritation); 7. dampen a cotton ball in toner or Witch Hazel; 8. skim over your neck and face to remove any trace of cleanser you might have missed; and 9. apply your favorite moisturizer. Skin Cancer What causes skin cancer? There are three main types of skin cancer: 1. Basal cell carcinoma 2. Squamous cell carcinoma 3. Melanoma Basal cell and squamous cell cancers make up 95% of all skin cancers and are highly curable when treated early. Melanoma, made up of abnormal skin pigment cells, called melanocytes, is a serious form of skin cancer and causes 75% of all skin cancer deaths. Left untreated, it can spread to other organs and is difficult to control. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the number one cause of skin cancer, and UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful. Exposure to sunlight during the winter months puts you at the same risk as exposure during the summertime. Excessive and unprotected sun exposure causes basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer, while episodes of severe sunburns, usually before age 18, can later cause melanoma. Other less common causes are repeated X-ray exposure, scars from burns or disease and occupational exposure to certain chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
QUESTION:
Are there any doctors on available to help me with an important problem?
Can I ever show a doctor a picture of a wart and they will be able to tell what it is?-
ANSWER:
im not a doctor. but im guessing most doctors wont give free advice over the internet. and wont diagnose from a picture. they will just tell you to come in and have it looked at. you said it was a wart,so that must be what it is.What are Warts?
Warts are benign tumors of the epidermis. They can occur in people of all ages. Warts usually occur in children and young adults.
What does a Wart look like?
The appearance of a wart depends on where it is growing. Warts are usually the same color of the skin. Warts usually feel rough to the touch, but can be dark, flat or smooth.
What Causes Warts?
Warts are caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. There are at least 60 types of HPV viruses.
Where Do Warts Appear?
Warts can grow on many different parts of your body. They can grow on your skin, on the inside of your mouth, on your genitals (genital warts) and on your rectal area (anal warts). Some types of HPV cause warts on the skin, while other types of HPV cause warts on the genitals and rectal area. Some people are more naturally resistant to the HPV viruses and don’t seem to get warts as easily as other people.
Can warts be passed from one person to another person?
Yes. Warts on the skin can be transmitted from person to person by direct physical contact. It is also possible to transmit warts by using towels or other objects that were used by a person who has warts.
Warts on the genitals can be passed to another person during sexual contact. Sometimes, a woman may not know she has warts and may transmit warts to her sexual partner without even knowing it.
The time between the first contact with warts and the time that the new warts will appear is often several months.
Can Warts be Treated?
Guaranteed effective all natural Warts Treatment.Yes warts can be treated. Sometimes treatment is unnecessary and the warts will go away on their own. When treatment is necessary, the most common treatments for warts are:
medications (for small warts)
Must be conducted by a doctor to prevent injury to the normal skin surrounding the warts.
surgical removal (for large warts)
laser surgery
cauterization
Guaranteed effective all natural Warts Treatment.If the warts are not removed through medicine or surgical removal, they will increase in size and number.
Will the Warts Reappear?
In some cases, the warts will reappear. They may reappear because the viruses that cause the warts are still present in the body.
-
-
QUESTION:
If my ex of 1 yr has hpv, and my new girlfriend doesnt does that mean im clean too?
My ex just found out she has hpv, but ive been having sex with my new girlfriend who was tested two times does that make me clean?-
ANSWER:
HPV can be dormant in the human body for 20+ years, because there are a plethora of different kinds. Very few strains actually produce warts as nearly 98% of HPV strains are asymptomatic.An RN I personally spoke to about the subject said that she had a woman come in after being faithfully married for over 20 years & suddenly have an outbreak. This is actually fairly normal to have long dormancies, but can be deadly, because she left it untreated.
SO…if you love … or even remotely care about the health of your current gf then you will get tested ! Some strains can be detected, while others can’t, so it’s kind of a gamble.
Sorry to have to tell you more, but you should also know…
> 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV [so it’s not safe to have sex w anyone who isn’t tested or a virgin]
> Most men don’t get symptoms for years, & if they do, it’s usually harmless/small warts
> If you infect a woman with HPV the chances of her getting cervical cancer increase dramatically
> Removal of the cervix usually causes serious fertility issues and sometimes death
> In young adult & adolescent females, the cervical cells are still developing increasing the risk of HPV issues
> Women are more biologically susceptible to STDs than men
>The human papillomavirus (HPV) is currently the fastest growing STI/STD
> HPV has no cure, but some strains can be prevented with Gardasil if you are a female under 26
> Cancer of the penis is rare, but can occur from HPV
> A common treatment for genital wart (HPV) outbreaks is burning or freezing them off (ick….)
> If you have an outbreak of HPV’s genital warts, it can take 1-3 years to clear it up
> One in four teen girls has a sexual disease, with HPV being by far being the most commonAssuming you are a guy, this issue is probably not extremely serious for YOU, but could be very serious for your gf, who could be at a much higher risk for cancer if you exposed her. I highly suggest that she also get a pap smear (which she should be doing regularly.)
P.S. Don’t just get tested for HPV Only! There was a very recent clinical study that said sexually active adults under 25 (not sure if you qualify) have a 50% chance of being infected with some sort of STD…65 million Americans have one or more….
Hope that helps paint a clearer picture.
-
-
QUESTION:
What should I do if I have wart-like things on my breasts?
http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/showEnlarged.html/M290069-Woman_with_warts_on_her_breast-SPL.jpg?id=772900069
I have warts similar to these on my breasts. what should I do?!-
ANSWER:
You should read the caption that came along with the picture.“Caption: Woman affected by warts on the breast. Warts, (medical name verrucae) the result of a viral infection, are small, often hard, benign growths in the skin. There are several types of warts: juvenile, common, plantar & genital or venereal. Warts usually disappear spontaneously although many treatments are available, including local application of chemicals, removal with a curette (scraping instrument) & electrocautery (electrically heated needle or snare).”
-
-
QUESTION:
There’s a mole on my skin that’s freaking me out?
There’s a mole on my arm that I just got, it wasn’t there before, and its very small, very dark, flat and circular. It doesn’t have any similarities to pictures of skin cancers that I’ve seen, but it just seems not right. There’s like scabby skin around it though, but not on it..Should I go to the doctor?
-
ANSWER:
Home Remedies for Moles
Since skin moles are very common, they are usually not removed. However, if they are especially large or unsightly, people may want them to be removed. There are several ways of removing moles. However, the removal has to be done carefully or these moles may leave scars behind. There are many medical ways of removing moles from the body. However, there are also some home remedies which can be used to remove moles naturally.Make a poultice out of ground coriander. You can apply this poultice on the skin on specific moles. When you keep applying this poultice for some days, the moles may begin to lighten. Sour apples are also another remedy for moles. Extract the juice of these apples and apply it on the mole several times during the day. If you have a raised mole on your skin, applying the juice of sour apples can thin the mole and ultimately the mole may fade away.
Moles : Home Remedies suggested by users
Diet for Moles
Potassium is an excellent remedy for the removal of moles. In fact, consuming foods rich in potassium can help you get rid of warts and other blemishes on the skin. Apple cider vinegar is a rich source of potassium and therefore should be consumed everyday. You can add a spoon of apple cider vinegar to your food everyday, if you can t consume a spoonful otherwise.Other Suggestions for Moles
Laser treatment can be used to remove large moles. This is a non-invasive procedure and has the least chance of leaving scars as compared to other surgical removal methods.Although this is known to most commonly affect dark skinned people or people of Asian ancestry it could very well affect anyone else also. The cause of the condition is still largely unknown, but about half of the people affected by it are known to have traces of the condition in their family tree. Women are also seen to be affected at a much higher percentage as compared to men. The condition will usually start to develop during the adolescent years of the individual and increase in prominence as well as population with age.
It is also important to remember that the development of these flat moles on your skin could be the result of nothing more than the over exposure of your skin to the sunlight.
Because of the fact that the sudden development of moles is not all that uncommon, there are a number of home remedies that will prove to be particularly useful in getting rid of them to some degree. Squeezing a clove of garlic and placing it over the area that needs cleansing before covering it with a bandage is known to be very effective in reducing the prominence of skin moles. You could also try crushing some vitamin C tablets and applying the powder over the spotted area of the skin, holding it in place with the help of an adhesive bandage. Castor oil is very beneficial in the treatment of moles and should be gently massaged into the area of the mole at least twice daily for best results. It is also essential that you avoid going outdoors when possible as any over exposure of your skin to the sun could cause the moles to become more prominent. If going out in the sun is completely unavoidable, make it a point to protect your skin with the help of a suitable sunscreen lotion.
answered Try this – Make a paste of castor oil and baking soda. Soak a gauze with this paste and tape it over the mole. Leave this overnightRemedies for Removal of Moles:There are many cosmetic products available in the market to remove moles. However, most of these only tend to aggravate the situation and hence you should be careful about what you are using to remove moles. Since this is a condition that has been present eternally, there are several home remedies that have been developed to treat the condition. Grind some coriander and apply the paste to the area of the mole. Do this every day and check for results. You could also use apply juice and apply it thrice a day for over three weeks. This would cause the mole to fade away slowly. Besides apple juice one could also apply ineapple juice mixed with ground cumin seeds. Keep this paste overnight and wash it with plain water in the morning.
Mix some castor oil in baking soda and dab the mixture onto the mole and leave it overnight. Repeat the procedure for 4 days. Garlic is also considered as an excellent remedy. Cut a garlic slice and place it on the mole such that the cut side is on the mole. Leave this preferably overnight for best results. Make a paste of a few pods of drumsticks finely ground and some lime juice. Apply this on the mole and leave it for 20 minutes before washing it off. You could also use apple cider vinegar after dabbing the mole with some warm water. This has known to be very useful in many cases.
-
-
QUESTION:
Does this sound like a common wart and if so what should I do?
For close to 3 months now I’ve had this little red bump on the inside of my wrist. It looked like a pimple or something at first, but now it has these little white things in it. I guess similar to when you get a white head, but there are a bunch of them in the one little bump. I’ve been using wart remover bandaids and stuff and not too much has happened until today. I pulled off a bandaid kind of fast and the bump started to bleed (I know its gross). I only put a regular bandaid on it because I don’t want to irritate it with wart removal chemicals. From the pictures of warts I’ve seen, it looks a little different, but the period of time its been here and stuff makes me think its a common wart. Anyone have any ideas? If so what else should I do. I’m going to try and go to the doctor next week. I’ve never had any warts before and I’m 25. However, I feel like I’ve had a little pimple like bump in this area before, but nothing like this and which usually went away in 2 weeks-
ANSWER:
It doesn’t sound like one to me… I don’t know what to do about it, though. Probably going to see a doctor is your best option.
-