Q&A

Skin Irregularities or Growths

Age spots are also known as sun spots, liver spots, lentigos, or lentigines: Flat, tan, brown, or dark brown spots on sun-exposed skin. As people age, sun spots most commonly appear on the backs of the hands, the forearms, neck, chest, and face. Sun spots are associated with cumulative sun exposure. The pigment producing cells in the skin (called melanocytes) are activated to produce more pigment (melanin) by ultraviolet rays. While these spots are not themselves cancerous, you may be at risk for skin cancer if you have them.

Xanthelasma: Tiny (1-2 mm) yellowish plaques that are slightly raised on the skin surface of the upper or lower eyelids. Xanthelasma is caused by tiny deposits of fat in the skin and is often associated with abnormal blood fat levels (hyperlipidemia). Xanthelasma is a kind of minute harmless growth of tissue. Xanthelasma typically appears in or near the eyelids.

Hemangioma: A birth irregularity where a localized tissue mass grows rich in small blood vessels. Capillary hemangiomas are composed nearly entirely of tiny capillary vessels. Cavernous hemangiomas are composed of blood- filled "lakes" and channels.

An hemangioma may be visible through the skin as a birthmark, known colloquially as a "strawberry mark." Most hemangiomas that occur at birth disappear after a few months or years.

Keratosis, actinic: A small rough spot on skin chronically exposed to the sun, precancerous, can develop into a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, a process that typically takes years. Actinic keratoses occur most frequently in fair-skinned people. Common locations are the face, scalp, back of the neck, upper chest, forearm and back of the hand.

Prevention is by minimizing sun exposure.

Skin tag: A small tag of skin that may have a stalk (a peduncle). Skin tags may appear on the skin almost anywhere although the favorite locales are the eyelids, neck, armpits (axillae), upper chest, and groin. Invariably benign, this tiny tumor of the skin usually causes no symptoms unless repeatedly irritated as, for example, by the collar.

Broken capillaries: most commonly found on the cheeks or nose area, these appear as small red / pink threads under the skins surface. Broken capillaries occur when the capillary walls narrow and widen too quickly causing the muscles in the walls to tear. This in turn allows the blood to seep out resulting in broken capillaries. Dehydrated, dry and sensitive skins often have thin skin that provides less protection and therefore, these skin types are the most commonly effected.
Common causes of broken capillaries are:
1. Hot conditions
2. Wind blowing on the face
3. Burning; ie...sunburn
4. Moving from one extreme temperature to another
5. Pressure; ie.... squeezing spots or glasses pressing on the face.
Broken capillaries can be prevented by avoiding all of the above.

Calcium deposits: unabsorbed amounts of calcium deposited in soft tissues around the body.

Cherry angiomas: most common vascular lesions to appear on human skin. They are made up of clusters of dilated capillaries on the surface of the skin, which accounts for the cherry-red or purple color.

Sebaceous Hyperplasia: benign, elevated, soft, yellowish, raised bumps frequently found on the face.

Warts: Most often found on the hands, but may be anywhere on the body. They are rough, shaped like a dome, and gray-brown in color.

Plantar warts: Grow on the soles of the feet. They look like hard, thick patches of skin with dark specks. Plantar warts may cause pain when you walk, and you may feel like you are stepping on a pebble.

What products are good for your skin?

SUNBLOCK!!

90% of aging skin is caused by the sun, known as extrinsic aging.

10% is natural aging, which is known as intrinsic aging.

Wear your sunblock!!!

Vitamin A - vitamin A is necessary for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue. Without it, you'll notice the difference. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamin A. Topical vitamin A is the form that makes a real difference in your skin. Medical studies show a reduction in lines and wrinkles, good acne control, and some psoriasis relief, all from using creams containing this nutrient. For example, in research presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2003, researchers from France showed that topically applied retinol plus vitamin C demonstrated a "reversal of skin alterations induced by chronologic aging and photoaging."

Vitamin C - The trick here is to use a formulation containing the L-ascorbic acid form of vitamin C, the only one that can penetrate skin layers and do the job. Vitamin C is extremely important for wound healing; helps prevent broken capillaries and excessive bruising; can prevent the consequences of prolonged sun exposure which can lead to skin cancer; helps reduce the damage caused by free radicals.

Vitamin E - prevents and treats dry skin. Slows down cellular aging; may prevent skin damage caused by excessive sun exposure; although not proven, some claim it may help diminish stretch marks; supplementation of natural vitamin E in 400 mg per day has been noted to reduce photodamage, wrinkles, and improve skin texture; helps reduce the damage caused by free radicals.

Vitamin D -

Vitamin K - works well to reduce dark circles when combined with vitamin A; helps reduce bruising.

What are Free Radicals? Free radicals are a harmful byproduct of sunlight, smoke and pollution. They gobble up collagen and elastin, the fibers that support skin structure, causing wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Copper - Together with vitamin C and the mineral zinc, copper helps to develop elastin, the fibers that support skin structure from underneath. What's more, they have been found to firm the skin and help restore some elasticity, according to four studies presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in 2002.When compared with a popular skin care treatment and a placebo, a cream containing copper peptides demonstrated rapid, visual overall improvements in skin roughness, clarity, fine lines, wrinkling, and overall photodamage. In similar studies, this same team of researchers found that copper peptides noticeably improved skin elasticity and thickness.

Zinc - Another skin-friendly mineral is zinc, important if you have acne. In fact, sometimes acne itself is a symptom of a zinc deficiency. Taken internally or used topically, zinc works to clear skin by taming oil production and may be effective in controlling the formation of acne lesions or help those already on your skin to clear sooner. Food sources of zinc include oysters, lean meat, and poultry.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid. A powerful antioxidant, hundreds of times more potent that either vitamin C or E, alpha-lipoic acid may turn out to be a super boost for aging skin. What makes it so special, say skin experts, is its ability to penetrate both oil and water, affecting skin cells from both the inside and the outside of the body. Most other antioxidants can do one but not both. More importantly, Alpha-Lipoic Acid helps nuetralize skin cell damage caused by free radicals.

DMAE - Another powerful antioxidant, this nutrient has one of the strongest appetites for free radicals. It works mostly by deactivating their power to harm skin cells. It also helps stabilize the membrane around the outside of each cell so that assaults from sun damage and cigarette smoke are reduced. DMAE also prevents the formation of lipofucsin, the brown pigment that becomes the basis for age spots. As with alpha-lipoic acid, DMAE is available in supplements and in topical creams.

Hyaluronic Acid. Made by the body, this nutrient's main job is to lubricate joints so that knees, elbows, fingers, and toes all move smoothly and easily. But research shows it also plays a role in skin cells, acting as a kind of glue that helps hold them together, keeping skin looking smoother and younger. Another plus is its ability to hold water, up to 1,000 times its weight, which means more moisture in each skin cell. Top skin care lines now include creams with hyaluronic acid. Sullivan says it is equally powerful taken in supplement form, though more research is needed to prove effectiveness. The nutrient isn't readily available in food.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). If your skin is dry, prone to inflammation, and frequently dotted with white heads and black heads, you may be lacking essential fatty acids, nutrients that are crucial to the production of skin's natural oil barrier. Without an adequate supply of EFAs, the skin produces a more irritating form of sebum, or oil, which can result in problems.

The solution may be to balance two of the key EFAs, omega-3 and omega-6. While most folks get plenty of omega-6s (in baked goods, cooking oils, poultry, grains, and many other foods), omega-3s are often lacking. They're found mostly in cold-water fish, including salmon, sardines, and mackerel, flaxseed, and flax and safflower oils. Taking supplements, such as fish oil capsules or evening primrose oil, may also help keep your skin smoother and younger-looking.

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