Ever since the days of puberty when pimples start popping out, you have probably taken notice changes that your skin undergoes. A mole here and a freckle there are all good and fine, but that weird, bumpy, crusty growths that seem to come from out of nowhere, those are the things that make you worry.
Your skin undergoes all sorts of changes with age, and some of the changes can be worrisome or unsightly. Everybody goes through uncanny spots, weird tags, or markings that appear on your skin overnight. The three main reasons due to which your skin changes are
• Personal- based on your lifestyle changes
• Environmental- from changes in the surroundings such as sun damage, weather change, etc.
• Biological- hormonal imbalance, loss of collagen and elasticity, etc.
You already know the importance of keeping an eye out for strange moles that could be cancerous, however, you might not know about the other growths you should be vigilant about.
Here’s the list of most common skin conditions you may develop with age.
Warts
Wherever you find them, you probably are not excited to notice any type of warts. They are stubborn, but warts treatment is very much possible, so you don’t have to live with them. This unsightly skin condition is the result of a virus and can appear on the hands, feet, face, or genitals. They might be of a variety of shapes, colors, and texture. They can be smooth or rough, brown, gray, or black, narrow or long, which means they are easy to be confused with a raised mole.
Although warts are not dangerous, they are highly contagious. They can be spread easily. This is the reason why most of the patients want to get rid of them immediately. Depending on the placement, type of wart, and its size, your dermatologist may remove by freezing, laser, or patches. They can also be treated using topical medication containing salicylic acid as well.
Skin Tags
Skin Tags are the extra piece of skin hanging off your body are pretty harmless. These pesky little outgrowths are benign and usually appear on the body areas that receive a lot of frictions such as eyelids, armpits, neck, groin folds, and under the breasts. These are extremely common and almost everybody will develop once in their lifetime. Middle-aged people, pregnant women, and individuals suffering from diabetes have a higher chance of developing them.
Although are not dangerous, most people still prefer to get them removed; either due to aesthetic purposes or maybe because they keeping getting caught on clothing and become painful. They are more common as people age. If they bother you, a dermatologist might freeze it off, cut it off, or burn it off with a laser or an electric current.
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic Keratosis is a focused sun damage area on the skin, commonly on the face, arms, and hands. They begin to appear as pink, red, or brown scaly spots that have a distinct sandpaper-like texture. These scaly patches are caused by exposure to Ultraviolet rays from the sun as well as from manmade tanning beds. These affect both men and women with fair skin but on different body parts. Men are likely to have them on the top or helix of their ear because of their short hair. Women are more likely to have them on their necks and chests.
Actinic Keratosis is not cancerous but can be an early marker for skin cancer especially squamous cell carcinoma. So, it is one growth you need to keep an eye on. They can turn into cancer if left untreated. So, dermatologists treat them with medication or remove them by freezing or burning them off or maybe a surgery if needed. It is best to prevent them by limiting sun exposure and wearing sunscreen.
Seborrheic Keratosis
This skin condition appears as a skin-colored warty spot or a tan on your face, chest, back, and shoulders especially after middle-age. You may have more than one on your body. Seborrheic Keratosis can look like a strange and scary but it’s one of the most common non-cancerous and otherwise harmless growths that can appear.
Seborrheic Keratosis lesions look scaly and can also be confused with a wart, which means most of the individuals would like to get rid of them due to aesthetic reasons. Your dermatologist may remove them if they bother you or to test for cancerous growth. These can be removed by electrosurgery or liquid nitrogen.
Age Spots or Lentigo
You might notice black or brown spots start appearing on your skin as you age. These spots usually occur in areas most exposed to the sun such as the face, back of your hands, and arms. They may grow very slowly over the years or may appear suddenly. These small sunspots look like large freckles and are generally flat and irregular in shape.
The sunspots are typically not a medical concern. However, some may choose to remove or lighten them for aesthetic reasons. The med spa treatments which help in its reduction include chemical peels, intense pulse light therapy, laser, or cryotherapy (freezing). Your skin specialist may also recommend medicines such as bleaching creams with hydroquinone or retinoids to treat them.
Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
The common blue or red veins that you see on the surface of your skin are referred to as spider veins. They are basically broken capillaries. Varicose veins are a more severe form of spider veins and are worrisome. They are larger because of the blood pooling in the veins causing them to bulge. People aged 30 or more and pregnant women are the most common victims may be as the hormones fluctuate resulting in the relaxation of veins, pooling of blood, and more pressure on the valves that circulates blood to the heart.
Both of these skin conditions usually don’t cause any health conditions, but if you experience pain or notice changes with the veins, you should consult a doctor. People with spider veins on their faces are more likely to reduce them due to aesthetic reasons. It can be done photofacials and other med spa treatments.
Conclusion
Your skin and your body are amazing although it’s constantly struggling with ranging opponents from the sun to viral and bacterial infections. Skin growths can be discomforting and disconcerting, but most of the time they end up being more of a cosmetic issue than a medical concern. If you find something which is weird or hard to look at, talk to your dermatologist.
If you want to know more about skin conditions, let us help you explore your options. Schedule an appointment for a visit at our Lansing or Mount Pleasant dermatology office, whichever is convenient for you.