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Prescription retinoids, acne medicationsYour skin does many things. It protects you from the environment, helps regulate your body temperature, helps with fluid and electrolyte balance, and provides receptors for sensations such as touch, pain, and pressure. Skin changes are among the most visible signs of aging. Evidence of increasing age include wrinkles and sagging skin. Whitening or graying of the hair is another obvious sign of aging. Skin changes are related to environmental factors, genetic makeup, nutrition, and other factors. The greatest single factor, though, is sun exposure. This can be seen by comparing areas of your body that have regular sun exposure with areas that are protected from sunlight. Sunlight is a major cause of the skin changes we think of as aging changes such as wrinkles, dryness, and age spots. As your skin ages, it becomes thinner and loses fat, so it looks less plump and smooth. Underlying structures veins and bones in particular become more prominent. Your skin can take longer to heal when injured. You can delay these changes by staying out of the sun. Although nothing can completely undo sun damage, the skin sometimes can repair itself. Skin Aging Factors The following factors can accelerate skin aging:
Dryness, loss of tone and fullness, diminished immune responses, and reduced ability to repair damage are all factors that contribute to the aging process. Aging Changes:
Because most skin changes are related to sun exposure, prevention is a lifelong process. Prevent sunburn if at all possible. Use a good quality sunscreen when outdoors, even in the winter. Wear protective clothing and hats as necessary. Good nutrition and adequate fluids are also helpful. Eat plenty of foods containing fiber-cooked vegetables, raw vegetables, fruit and whole grains, like real oatmeal, every day. These foods keep digestion and elimination consistent, which is crucial to the health and beauty of your skin, as well as to your overall health. Eat dark green and orange vegetables in particular-these are known to possess antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties. Dehydration increases the risk of skin injury. Sometimes minor nutritional deficiencies can cause rashes, skin lesions, and other skin changes. Keep skin moist with lotions and do not use soaps that are heavily perfumed. Moist skin is more comfortable and may heal better. Acne Acne, also called acne vulgaris, is a common inflammatory skin condition that is characterized by pimples, blackheads, and red, swollen bumps on the skin (usually the face, neck, shoulders, or back). The term acne is used to describe the condition when a person has between 5 to 10 pimples, blackheads, or red and swollen bumps on his or her body at the same time. A variety of prescription medications are used today to clear acne. Topical (applied to the skin) medications may be prescribed for mild to severe acne. Systemic (works internally) therapy is needed to treat severe acne and may be used for moderate cases. These medications, which play an important role in acne treatment, attack the different factors that lead to acne. To achieve long-term control and resolution, dermatologists may combine therapies. Related information: Acne - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment. OriginalDrugs.com offers prices of the following acne prescription drugs: Retinoids, Topical
The group of medications known as retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. Creams containing the retinoids retinol and retinaldehyde can be obtained over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets. Other topical retinoids containing tretinoin or isotretinoin require a doctor's prescription. Topical retinoids are effective treatments for mild to moderately severe acne. In the last few years tretinoin has also been shown to reverse some of the changes due to photo-aging, i.e. sun damage. It may reduce some fine wrinkles, freckles, comedones (whiteheads and blackheads), and solar keratoses (dry scaly sun-spots). Retinoids can irritate the skin and increase the chance of sunburn. Excessive use results in redness and peeling. Wrinkles Wrinkles are visible creases in the skin. Most wrinkles are associated with aging changes in skin. Aging of the skin and related structures (hair and nails) is a natural process. Wrinkles can develop because of:
Over time, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of these fibers causes the skin to lose its ability to snap back after stretching. As a result, wrinkles form. Gravity also is at work, pulling at the skin and causing it to sag, most noticeably on the face, neck, and upper arms. Cigarette smoking also contributes to wrinkles. People who smoke tend to have more wrinkles than nonsmokers of the same age, complexion, and history of sun exposure. Facial wrinkling increases with the amount of cigarettes and number of years a person has smoked. Treatment:
Dry Skin and Itching Many older people suffer from dry skin, particularly on their lower legs, elbows, and forearms. The skin feels rough and scaly and often is accompanied by a distressing, intense itchiness. Low humidity caused by overheating during the winter and air conditioning during the summer contributes to dryness and itching. The loss of sweat and oil glands as you age also may worsen dry skin. Dehydration, sun exposure, smoking, and stress also may cause dry skin. Dry skin itches because it is irritated easily. If your skin is very dry and itchy, consult a doctor. The most common treatment for dry skin is the use of moisturizers to reduce water loss and soothe the skin. Moisturizers come in several forms: ointments, creams, and lotions. Ointments are mixtures of water in oil, usually either lanolin or petrolatum. Creams are preparations of oil in water, which is the main ingredient. Creams must be applied more often than ointments to be most effective. Lotions contain powder crystals dissolved in water, again the main ingredient. Because of their high water content, they feel cool on the skin and don't leave the skin feeling greasy. Although they are easy to apply and may be more pleasing than ointments and creams, lotions don't have the same protective qualities. You may need to apply them frequently to relieve the signs and symptoms of dryness. Moisturizers should be used indefinitely to prevent recurrence of dry skin. Age Spots Age spots ("liver spots") have nothing to do with the liver. Rather, these flat, brown spots are caused by years of sun exposure. They are bigger than freckles and appear in fair-skinned people on sun-exposed areas such as the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. The medical name for them is solar lentigo. They may be accompanied by wrinkling, dryness, thinning of the skin, and rough spots. A number of treatments are available, including skin-lightening creams; cryotherapy (freezing); and laser therapy. Tretinoin cream is approved for reducing the appearance of darkened spots. A sunscreen or sun block should be used to prevent further damage. Anti aging creams Anti aging creams contain all the anti aging ingredients (including DHEA and melatonin) to help the skin to repair, renew, and revitalize itself are available. These creams must contain the precise DHEA amounts and melatonin, together with associated factors, that work specifically in the epidermis of the skin, not transdermally. These creams may be used at night or during the day with a sunscreen. Other skin care prescription drugs
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