Common Skin Conditions

The following are tutorials about skin conditions that have some relationship to aging. Some are just a natural part of the aging process, such as age spots. Others, like acne, can contribute to the aging process- sometimes from going untreated and sometimes because of damage caused by the treatment itself.

Spider veins (telagiectasia) or broken capillaries are small blood vessels near the surface of the skin, which become abnormally dilated. Spider veins are very small, usually 0.5 mm to 3 mm and are considered harmless. They cause no pain or discomfort and pose no risk to one’s health unlike varicose veins, which may be an indicator of something more serious. The biggest problem with spider veins is their unsightly appearance on the face and legs.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for acne, but there are ways to keep acne under control so that episodes are lessened in frequency and severity. Because there are so many different reasons for acne to develop, the treatments aim to control one or more of the factors that cause it in the first place.
Cellulite is the lumpy substance resembling cottage cheese commonly found on the stomach, thighs, and buttocks. While it is not officially a disease, it does refer to a condition that clearly exists. Cellulite is actually a fancy name for fat deposits that push against the connective tissue beneath a person’s skin, which causes the surface of the skin to pucker or dimple and look lumpy.
Hyper pigmentation may be caused by inflammation, sun damage, or other skin injuries, including some related to acne.
Rosacea (ro-ZER-sha) is a skin condition common to light and fair skinned people of European descent and particularly women ages 30 to 60. Rosacea is characterized by a flushing and redness on the face particularly across the cheeks, nose, and forehead. It can also appear on the neck and chest.
Scars occur as a result of the natural healing process. Rather than concerning itself with vanity, the body quickly shifts into survival mode making quick, sloppy, repairs with basic materials to close off any potential entry-point for infection into the body. Fresh scars tend to be irregular, prominent, and sometimes reddish as blood vessels reform.