Tag Archives: Skin

Straight, No Chaser: Life Begins (to End) at 40 (Unless It Doesn’t) – The Skin

Health Prevention, General Health and Wellness, Skin/Dermatology, , , , , , , , , , , ,

agingsmoker
We have a natural inclination to think about our mortality as we approach and pass 40 years old. A big part of healthy aging is prior healthy living, particularly as you reach the age at which your unhealthy habits begin to catch up with you or otherwise naturally aging processes begin to demonstrate themselves emphatically. Being on the other side of 40 is an exercise in self-reflection and understanding of limitations previously not existent. I’m still pushing the rock up the mountain, but I’ve seen the challenges of maintaining and continuing to advance. This is a lot to digest, so I’m going to go through five different body systems this week in a simple way: system – changes – challenges – solutions. If you’re keeping score, especially focus on the take home messages within solutions. And don’t be depressed! Forewarned is forearmed. Take action! I welcome any questions or comments.

Part 1/5: Your Skin

Changes: As the skin ages, blood flow to the skin is decreased, and nerve endings are lost or become less sensitive. As a result, the skin loses some of its effectiveness as a protector against bacteria, as an insulator, as a heat/cold regulator, and as a sensory receptor. These losses cause wrinkling, loss of elasticity, freedom of movement, and expression are inhibited. The slowing of circulation results in slower healing. The loss of color is also seen, as the hair becomes gray.
Challenges: The skin generally functions well throughout life though, and most changes in the skin due to aging are not life threatening. Most of the damaging changes in the skin are cosmetic. The drying and thinning result in sagging and wrinkling, the hair becomes sparser and gray or white, and the fingernails become rigid, tend to yellow, and are prone to splitting. Skin disorders more common in the aging skin include enhanced itching, thickening in patches, skin cancer, ulcers/pressure sores, and herpes zoster (shingles). These effects bring social implications based on a significant cultural tendency toward ageism. One’s social life becomes more limited as younger people view elders as “not fun”, “slow”, “grumpy”, less desirable as friends and sexual partners, and so on. These views spill into the workplace or what might be a potential workplace, as one who looks “old” is not considered as having ‘much’ to offer.
Solutions: Two words: hydrate and moisturize. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun, maintain moisture in the skin, provide adequate nutrition so that the skin can be maintained and repaired, and get regular exercise to maintain circulation in the skin. Sounds simple, but we really fail to adhere to this consideration. Many of these changes can be delayed for very long periods of time.
Post-Script: I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that those of you of all races and ethnicities must be diligent in getting rapidly growing or changing moles evaluated. It is an untruth that Blacks and Browns don’t get skin cancer.
Post-Post-Script: Ever imagine what effect holding a cigarette up to your face for decades has?  Here’s a depiction.

agesmoke

Feel free to ask any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2016 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Life Begins (to End) at 40 (Unless It Doesn’t) – The Skin

General Health and Wellness, Skin/Dermatology, Health Prevention, , , , , , , , , , , ,

agingsmoker
September is Healthy Aging Month. A big part of healthy aging is prior healthy living, particularly as you reach the age at which your unhealthy habits begin to catch up with you or otherwise naturally aging processes begin to demonstrate themselves emphatically. Being on the other side of 40 is an exercise in self-reflection and understanding of limitations previously not existent. I’m still pushing the rock up the mountain, but I’ve seen the challenges of maintaining and continuing to advance. This is a lot to digest, so I’m going to go through five different body systems this week in a simple way: system – changes – challenges – solutions. If you’re keeping score, especially focus on the take home messages within solutions. And don’t be depressed! Forewarned is forearmed. Take action! I welcome any questions or comments.

Part 1/5: Your Skin

Changes: As the skin ages, blood flow to the skin is decreased, and nerve endings are lost or become less sensitive. As a result, the skin loses some of its effectiveness as a protector against bacteria, as an insulator, as a heat/cold regulator, and as a sensory receptor. These losses cause wrinkling, loss of elasticity, freedom of movement, and expression are inhibited. The slowing of circulation results in slower healing. The loss of color is also seen, as the hair becomes gray.
Challenges: The skin generally functions well throughout life though, and most changes in the skin due to aging are not life threatening. Most of the damaging changes in the skin are cosmetic. The drying and thinning result in sagging and wrinkling, the hair becomes sparser and gray or white, and the fingernails become rigid, tend to yellow, and are prone to splitting. Skin disorders more common in the aging skin include enhanced itching, thickening in patches, skin cancer, ulcers/pressure sores, and herpes zoster (shingles). These effects bring social implications based on a significant cultural tendency toward ageism. One’s social life becomes more limited as younger people view elders as “not fun”, “slow”, “grumpy”, less desirable as friends and sexual partners, and so on. These views spill into the workplace or what might be a potential workplace, as one who looks “old” is not considered as having ‘much’ to offer.
Solutions: Two words: hydrate and moisturize. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun, maintain moisture in the skin, provide adequate nutrition so that the skin can be maintained and repaired, and get regular exercise to maintain circulation in the skin. Sounds simple, but we really fail to adhere to this consideration. Many of these changes can be delayed for very long periods of time.
Post-Script: I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that those of you of all races and ethnicities must be diligent in getting rapidly growing or changing moles evaluated. It is an untruth that Blacks and Browns don’t get skin cancer.
Post-Post-Script: Ever imagine what effect holding a cigarette up to your face for decades has?  Here’s a depiction.

agesmoke

Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright, Sterling Initiatives, LLC. 2013-2015

Straight, No Chaser: What's that Rash? Eczema and Psoriasis

Medical Treatment, Skin/Dermatology, , , , , , , , ,

Rashes are very frustrating for patients.  They itch, burn, get infected, aren’t pleasant to look at and never go away rapidly enough. Another problem is no one ever seems to know what they are at first, and that causes a big problem because you’re concerned immediately (as you should be) when the rash appears. Unfortunately, in the early stages, most rashes are indistinguishable. In many cases, in order to diagnose them, you’d have to let them evolve and bloom into whatever they’re trying to become, but who has time for that? I remember in medical school, the prevailing wisdom was “If it’s wet, dry it (powder), if it’s dry, wet it (creams, lotions and ointments), and give everybody steroids.” Well, don’t try that at home without your physician’s direction because it’s not universally true, but it sure does seem like hydrocortisone has a lot to do with treating rashes.
Today, I’d like to review two common chronic conditions defined by rashes, and later I’ll do the same with acute presentations of rashes. The thing about eczema and psoriasis is we should know it when we see it, and so should you. By the way, dermatitis is the general term for skin inflammations, and eczema and psoriasis both fall under this category. As such, they have a lot in common, including basic underlying mechanisms (irritation), treatment considerations and a knack at raising frustration levels.
eczema
Eczema (aka atopic dermatitis, which is the most common form of eczema) is a red, dry itchy rash that really is just an inflammatory reaction. If you let it linger, it can become cracked, infected and develop a leather-like consistency. It’s said that you’d develop eczema just by scratching or rubbing your skin long enough, because it’s the damage to the skin that causes the inflammatory reaction that defines eczema. This is why eczema is notoriously called “the itch that rashes”. You’re more likely to have it if you have asthma, have fever or tendencies toward food allergies (or other allergies), but you can get it with pretty much any significant skin irritation. It’s not contagious, but it does run in families.
psoriasis
Psoriasis is another chronic skin condition that is easily recognized. As noted above, that thick scaly, silvery skin (called plaques) results from an overgrowth of skin cells. As with eczema, this condition is a result of inflammation to the skin, in this instance caused by an overreaction of your immune system speeding up the production of skin cells. Psoriatic lesions are most often seen on the elbows, knees and scalp; it can also involve the back, hand and feet (including the nails). Psoriasis tends to flare-up then go into remission, but during those flare-ups, it is very uncomfortable and unsightly.
These are both ‘dry’ rashes, so treatment involves moisturizers, changing habits to include mild soaps, loose fitting clothing, moderate temperature showers (to avoid drying the skin), and when necessary, antihistamines (like Benadryl) and topical steroid creams (like hydrocortisone). Use any medications after consultation with your physician, who may prescribe more exotic treatments such as medications to calm or suppress the body’s immune response or ultraviolet light therapy. Your job is to identify and avoid the irritants that cause the inflammatory reaction (e.g. sweating, scratching, tight-fitting clothing and anything that dries you out). It’s important for you to get these addressed early before the appearance becomes too bothersome for you.
I welcome any questions or comments.
Copyright © 2013 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Life Begins (to End) at 40 (Unless It Doesn’t) – The Skin

Health Prevention, Skin/Dermatology, , , , , , , , ,

agingsmoker
Being on the other side of 40 is a trip. I’m still pushing the rock up the mountain, but I’ve seen the challenges of maintaining and continuing to advance. This is a lot to digest, so I’m going to go through five different body systems this week in a simple way: system – changes – challenges – solutions. If you’re keeping score, especially focus on the take home messages within solutions. And don’t be depressed! Forewarned is forearmed. Take action! I welcome any questions or comments.

Part 1/5: Your Skin

Changes: As the skin ages, blood flow to the skin is decreased, and nerve endings are lost or become less sensitive. As a result, the skin loses some of its effectiveness as a protector against bacteria, as an insulator, as a heat/cold regulator, and as a sensory receptor. These losses cause wrinkling, loss of elasticity, freedom of movement, and expression are inhibited. The slowing of circulation results in slower healing. The loss of color is also seen, as the hair becomes gray.
Challenges: The skin generally functions well throughout life though, and most changes in the skin due to aging are not life threatening. Most of the damaging changes in the skin are cosmetic. The drying and thinning result in sagging and wrinkling, the hair becomes sparser and gray or white, and the fingernails become rigid, tend to yellow, and are prone to splitting. Skin disorders more common in the aging skin include enhanced itching, thickening in patches, skin cancer, ulcers/pressure sores, and herpes zoster (shingles). These effects bring social implications based on a significant cultural tendency toward ageism. One’s social life becomes more limited as younger people view elders as “not fun”, “slow”, “grumpy”, less desirable as friends and sexual partners, and so on. These views spill into the workplace or what might be a potential workplace, as one who looks “old” is not considered as having ‘much’ to offer.
Solutions: Two words: hydrate and moisturize. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun, maintain moisture in the skin, provide adequate nutrition so that the skin can be maintained and repaired, and get regular exercise to maintain circulation in the skin. Sounds simple, but we really fail to adhere to this consideration. Many of these changes can be delayed for very long periods of time.
Post-Script: I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that those of you of all races and ethnicities must be diligent in getting rapidly growing or changing moles evaluated. It is an untruth that Blacks and Browns don’t get skin cancer.
Post-Post-Script: Ever imagine what effect holding a cigarette up to your face for decades has?  Here’s a depiction.

agesmoke

Copyright © 2013 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress