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Frequently Asked Questions About Aging Skin
This segment of AgingSkinNet provides answers to
some common questions about the effects of aging and photoaging,
diseases of the skin in older adults, and treatments for aging skin.
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What is shingles, and why does
it occur only in older people?
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Why does the skin of older
people bruise so easily?
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Older people often complain
of itching skin. What causes this itching?
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Are liver spots a sign of
liver disease?
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Is it appropriate for a
woman to have a hair restoration procedure?
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What is shingles, and why does
it occur only in older people?
Shingles is a condition caused by a virus
(herpes zoster) that also causes chicken pox. It is believed that
the virus causes chicken pox in childhood, then lies dormant in
nerve tissue for years or decades until it is reactivated to cause
shingles. While shingles can affect people at any age, it is more
common and often more painful in older adults.
Reactivation of herpes virus is heralded by
localized pain along the route of a nerve, as the virus causes the
nerve tissue to become inflamed. After 2 or 3 days of pain that is
often severe, the skin erupts with red and fluid-filled lesions
along the route of the affected nerve. The skin lesions resemble
those of chicken pox. As the condition progresses, new lesions
continue to form and pain continues to be severe. The active phase
may continue for a week or longer, but healing may require several
weeks, especially in older adults. In some cases, branches of the
optical nerve may be affected and vision may be impaired or even
lost. A dermatologist should be consulted immediately if shingles is
suspected. Treatment with anti-viral drugs is most effective in the
early phase of shingles.
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Why does the skin of older
people bruise so easily?
As people age, the skin becomes thinner and fat
padding under the skin is lost. Thus, blood vessels are less
protected from injury. An injury inflicted by mild trauma—for
example, bumping against a table or being hit by a tennis ball—may
result in a substantial bruise. In some instances, bruising may be
an indication of an underlying condition. Bruises that appear for no
apparent reason may indicate a bleeding disorder. Anti-clotting
medications may cause bleeding under the skin.
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Older people often complain
of itching skin. What causes this itching?
Aging and photoaging
reduce the capacity of the skin to moisturize itself, so the skin
becomes dry. Dry skin is one of the major causes of itchiness in
aging skin. Over-the-counter moisturizing agents may relieve itching
due to dry skin. Other causes of itchy skin often require the
attention of a dermatologist. Elderly skin is sometimes more
sensitive to clothing fabrics (especially wool), soaps and
detergents, and other items encountered in everyday living.
Identification of the sensitizing agents and limiting exposure to
them may reduce the itchiness. Allergies to a host of indoor and
outdoor agents may cause itching. Some medications cause itchiness
as a side effect. Severe itching as well as itching that does not
respond to moisturizing should be evaluated by a dermatologist.
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Are liver spots a sign of
liver disease?
Liver spots have nothing to do with the liver,
and they are not an indication of liver disease. They are more
correctly called "age spots" and "photoaging spots". In medical
terminology they are called lentigines or lentigos. Their typical
appearance is light to dark brown (nearly black) flat patches on the
hands, face, legs or feet. The edges of the spots are rounded,
giving them a resemblance to a large freckle. One may appear by
itself, or several may cluster together. The causes of these spots
are (1) an inherited tendency to form them, and (2) chronic sun
exposure. They can be removed by a dermatologist.
There are no effective preventive measures for
hereditary age spots. Photoaging may be prevented or moderated by
avoiding excessive sun exposure and using effective sunscreen
(Please see Prevention of Photoaging). Age spots are not cancerous or
precancerous. However, pigmented lesions that may be similar in
appearance, but have uneven rather than rounded edges, could be
melanoma and should be evaluated by a dermatologist (Please see
Skin Cancer).
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Is it appropriate for a
woman to have a hair restoration procedure? Isn’t this something
usually done for men?
Hair loss is a problem affecting about 35
million men in the United States—and about 22 million women.
Although hair transplantation and other hair restoration procedures
were at first used primarily for men to correct male pattern
baldness, women have increasingly turned to dermatologists for help
in restoring a "full head of hair" look. Inherited tendency is a
major cause of hair loss in women just as in men. Hormonal changes
of pregnancy can lead to hair loss. Other causes include stress and
nutritional deficiencies. Before a hair restoration program is
undertaken by a woman, a dermatologist must evaluate the cause(s) of
hair loss and recommend the hair restoration procedure that will be
most effective (Please see Hair Loss).
All content solely
developed by the American Academy of Dermatology
Supported by an educational donation
provided by The Allergan Foundation.
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