Effects and Causes of Smoking Wrinkles

January 28, 2015

Effects and Causes of Smoking Wrinkles – Getting Rid of Deep Wrinkles

Effects and Causes of Smoking Wrinkles

When we talk about smoking all we can think about is in the negative. Nothing about smoking is good. It is not a secrete everybody is aware of the dangers of smoking. The manufacturers are aware that their products are not healthy for consumption, the various governments and authorities are not left out. But the revenue accruing from the deadliest product won’t just let this unhealthy commodity be listed under the illicit drugs. I ask why spend heavily on the medication of illness associated with smoking when burning it from the list of consumable goods would help prevent such health issues? Is there anything valuable more than good health? This is what the authorities are insinuating. The effects and causes of smoking wrinkles is what we want to discuss in this article. We are aware that there are several effects of smoking, but for the purpose of this article, we are going to narrow it down to understanding the effects and causes of smoking wrinkles. We are privileged to have doctor Dalal Akoury a multidimensional professional in addiction, beauty and skin care, weight loss and healthy living among many other disciplines. She will be giving us certain insight about smoking cigarettes which is not just harmful to the skin but also very addictive and not easy to stop.

Being addictive as it is there are many health concerns that are associated with smoking, however in the society we leave in today one risk many people may not be keen a bout is the development of smoking wrinkles. Ideally people often associate these wrinkles with lines that form around the mouth, yet smoking is known to cause wrinkles around the entire face and even to the whole body as well. This is because smoking wrinkles are caused by a number of factors; not just the squeezing of the lips to breathe in smoke from a cigarette. Doctor Akoury says that smoking wrinkles can be prevented by quitting the unhealthy habit if you’re already in it, however but it’s important to understand the facts behind formation, effects and causes of smoking wrinkles. Why we need to know this is because unlike wrinkles caused by aging skin, the moment smoking wrinkles sets in, eliminating them can be very difficult if not impossible. This becomes harder to treat because the content of tobacco smoke (chemicals contained in tobacco smoke) can cause irreversible damage to skin tissue on a cellular level. That is why talking to doctor Akoury on the best way to handle this situation would be very important. You can schedule for an appointment with her today and your skin health will never be the same again.

Effects and Causes of Smoking Wrinkles – What Causes Smoking Wrinkles?

Much as smoking is known to form several wrinkles that damage the skin, the most evident one is that which is formed around the eyes. This is formed from the consistent rhythmic expressions made while smoking. Such expressions causes the collagen to weaken in the affected areas resulting in skin sagging. Remember that collagen is the natural protein in your skin enabling the skin to keeps it elasticity and firmness, however as age catches with you, the production of collagen reduces which then result in the formation of wrinkles.

When you smoke you create repetitive creasing motions to inhale the smoke, in the process creases begin to form around your mouth and under your nose gradually and invisibly at the beginning, just in the same way wrinkles develops when you’re constantly exposed to the scorching sun. It is important to note that while these wrinkles form over time, the effects and causes of smoking wrinkles begin to appear at a more rapid pace than crow’s feet and other types of wrinkles because of the toxins that contained in cigarettes. Chemicals like benzene and carbon monoxide deplete skin cells of essential nutrients, and constrict blood vessels in the skin. Doctor Akoury says that besides what you already know, toxins in cigarette smoke also deplete the skin of vital moisture which makes it drier and more prone to premature aging. Smoking wrinkles usually deepen quickly once they are formed, giving the skin around the mouth a puckered, saggy appearance. Now that you know where to get help from, why allow saggy appearance on your face? Be on the safe side of life and schedule for that appointment with the experts (Dr. Akoury) today.

Effects and Causes of Smoking Wrinkles – Treatments for Smoking Wrinkles

If you have already quit smoking and want to reverse the skin damage caused by wrinkles from smoking, you can begin with a glycolic acid peel that will remove dead and discolored skin cells from the surface of your face and rehydrate parched skin. These peels contain alpha hydroxy acids and vitamins such as vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant, and vitamin A, (retinol) which stimulates cell turnover and boosts the development of new collagen.

Another option for smoothing out smoking wrinkles is to invest in injectable fillers such as Botox.
These fillers are injected just under the wrinkles and work in two ways: they either deaden the nerve connection to the muscles, which prevents muscular contractions that cause the wrinkles.
If you are not certain which treatment for smoking wrinkles will work best for your skin type and tone, consult doctor Akoury or your dermatologist.

Effects and Causes of Smoking Wrinkles – Side Effects of Smoking Wrinkles Treatments

Finally like in any other effective treatment that offers lasting solutions for smoking wrinkles, ordinarily there will be some side effects which can crop up in the process of treatment. For instance skin discoloration, redness, and peeling can occur with glycolic acid peels, and injectable fillers and Botox are likely to cause pain and redness at the point of injection site. This though a side effect, it may not last for long probably a couple of. It is however advisable that when you experience any severe side effects from treating smoking wrinkles, consult immediately with the professionals for immediate solution. And like we have stated, if you want immediate and lasting solutions then the home of experts (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) is the place to be.

Effects and Causes of Smoking Wrinkles – Getting Rid of Deep Wrinkles

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin

January 27, 2015

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin – How to prevent neck wrinkles

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin. The solution is never neglect your neck, it also needs protection just like the face.

Somebody once made fun in a gathering I attended that everybody wants to live for long yet nobody wants to grow old. Funny I agree because every minute that passes if you’re still alive you are growing old. It is the simple truth and we can’t run away from it. This made me thinking of factors that make people appear old even when they are still in their early twenties. One of the factors of aging is the formation of wrinkles on the skin or body. Wrinkles actually can appear anywhere on the body. We are therefore going to be concentrating on the fundamentals of neck wrinkles and aging skin for the purpose of this discussion. I know that many people are very much concern with their facial look and spend a lot of time grooming their face forgetting their neck. What they may not know is that wrinkles on your neck can make you look and feel older even much older than those that appear on the face. To help solve this problem, doctor Akoury tells us that there are many anti-aging treatments to fight wrinkles and other signs of aging on your neck. And in fact the same factors that cause wrinkles on your face can also be the major contributors to the fundamentals of neck wrinkles and aging skin. The reason why neck wrinkles tend to appear more visible is because they only realize that their neck also needs protection when the wrinkles are already forming up. I know you’re probably a victim but all is not lost doctor Akoury says that by using products that prevent and address these signs of aging, you can have a more youthful-looking neck, which will make you look younger overall. I believe you want this as much as I do. Therefore schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today and restore the glory of your neck and the general beauty of your skin.

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin – Causes of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin

We have two different types of neck wrinkles and each has its own set of causes.

Horizontal Neck Wrinkles – this kind of wrinkles occur as collagen diminishes and elastin weakens due to:

Genetic Aging
Environmental Aging
Hormonal Aging

These proteins firm the skin and enable it to easily get back, however when they fail to get back the skin begins to lose structure resulting in formation of wrinkles on the neck.

Vertical Neck Wrinkles – ideally this set of neck wrinkles develop as a result of spending a lot of time in the same position over many years. Like for instance sleeping in the same position over and over is a major cause of vertical neck wrinkles. Besides that another contributing factor in vertical neck wrinkles can be excessive sun damage. Remember that besides this causes the neck is predominantly vulnerable to the development of age spots or sun spots. Not only is your neck and décolleté frequently exposed to the sun, but many people forget to apply sun block to the neck and décolleté area. Therefore, sun and age spots may be particularly heavy in that area.

Nonetheless, as age catches with us, the production of collagen decreases causing the skin to become less firm and desirable. The skin’s ability to retain water weakens factors which encourages the formation of wrinkles. During this time women also produce less estrogen, which has an impact on cellular activity. Remember that wrinkles happen due to the loss of skin elasticity, not just on the face but also on the neck. But like I had said before, it’s not too late to begin delaying the ageing process. There are several things you can do, and most can be easily incorporated into your daily routine like drinking more water, using a night cream on the neck and eating more salmon and blueberries are some of the things you will not need an expert to do.

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin – Moisturize and don’t neglect your neck

Doctor Akoury says that never discriminate against your neck because they are all parts of your body, and besides the skin on your neck and chest is as delicate as your face, and the best way to delay the ageing process is to boost its suppleness. The skin here is very thin and has fewer sebaceous glands, fewer lipids (essential to protect the skin from external factors) and fewer melanocytes (cells that produce the pigment that gives colour to your skin and protects it from sunlight). Your neck needs much attention as your face. If for whatever reason you have been neglecting your neck and chest, you can begin correcting the situation today and doctor Akoury will be there to take you all through step by step.

Cleanse your neck and décolletage both morning and night. After the morning cleanse, apply moisturizer, using an upward, circular motion from under your chin to the top of your cleavage. You might discover that your neck skin requires a richer product than the one you use on your face. Massage it in, to help it penetrate the skin and to boost the circulation in that area. And in the evening, apply anti-ageing cream, either the same one you use on your face or one specifically for the neck, depending on how rich your facial product is. Most night creams now contain vitamins and antioxidants, such as Vitamin A, C and E and beta carotene, which are powerful anti-ageing ingredients.

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin – Exfoliate the neck once a week

Exfoliate the neck and chest area at least once a week to keep the skin free of in-built dirt and dead skin cells. This area is delicate, so avoid products that contain sharp particles, and use a gentle, non-abrasive exfoliants.

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin – Keep your body hydrated

Because our skin loses its ability to retain moisture as we age, it is important to keep hydrated from within, by drinking water throughout the day and getting hydration from fruit and vegetables.

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin – Eat oily fish and take a fish-oil supplement

Nutrition rich in anti-oxidants like Omega-3 acids mainly available in fish is very important. You will be very surprised how your skin will be rejuvenated by boosting collagen production. You may also consider taking a portion of salmon or mackerel weekly and not forgetting pomegranates, acai berries, blueberries and green tea which will also help you stock up on antioxidants.

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin – Stop smoking

This should motivate you to quit smoking since heavy smokers are five times more likely to have excessive wrinkling than non-smokers. Smoking damages collagen and lip pursing and squinting while inhaling creates wrinkles around your mouth and eyes, and more wrinkles in the delicate skin directly under your chin. Besides that you can do other things like sleeping on the right pillow and doing neck exercise frequently. Finally, get help from the experts where is necessary. Doctor Akoury is available for you all the time if only you can schedule for an appointment with her today.

Fundamentals of Neck Wrinkles and Aging Skin – How to prevent neck wrinkles

Causes of Face and Skin Wrinkles

January 27, 2015

Causes of Face and Skin Wrinkles – When to start using the Ant-aging Products

Causes of Face and Skin Wrinkles. It is no secret that the most common anti-aging skin care concern for many people is the formation of wrinkles and the need to find the befitting anti-wrinkle treatment solution.

We all get disturbed when wrinkles form on our faces. Even though this concern disturbs us, no skin care product can give you wrinkle-free skin. This may sound harsh but it is the truth. Therefore the first step in finding the right anti-aging products for your skin to minimize wrinkles is to understand causes of face and skin wrinkles. It is no secret that the most common anti-aging skin care concern for many people is the formation of wrinkles and the need to find the befitting anti-wrinkle treatment solution. Nonetheless, the best cream, serum or treatment which is appropriate in reducing fine lines and wrinkles will depend on the cause of your wrinkles. Being aware of this will help you prevent these signs of aging. To help us understand the causes of face and skin wrinkles well, we are going to be talking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center so that you and your loved ones who may be going through the same can find lasting solution to all problems relating to skin care and wrinkles formation. In the meantime, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder and C.E.O of this facility and she will be of help to you a great deal. Now to the causes of face and skin winkles.

Causes of Face and Skin Wrinkles – Genetic Aging can cause Wrinkles

It is true that genetic factors can lead to fine lines, wrinkles and even deep lines causing skin health to deteriorate. Many may think that wrinkles only forms in old age this notion is not the correct picture. Wrinkles typically begins as earlier as 20s, it is therefore very important that you start using anti-aging and anti-wrinkle products when you’re younger to prevent the signs of aging and keep your skin youthful-looking. Why we encourage this is because with age the body’s collagen production slows; elastin, the substance that causes skin to be able to get back into place from a furrowed or wrinkled state, begins to lose some of its flexibility and cellular turnover rate decreases. When these changes take place, the skin also gradually loses it ability to battle the harms from UV rays. The combination of these changes cause the skin to sag and looks wavy causing the wrinkles to be more visible.

We appreciate that your genetic makeup can influence to some extent your aging process and frequency, however when we begin using a complete skin care regimen, and adapt a healthy lifestyle, we will be able to effectively address the issues of premature aging. That is why we make emphasis on introducing the anti-wrinkle treatment in the early stages of life. Besides all these it’s a safe bet to take a look at your family primarily to study their aging timelines. If their skin is still smooth at an older age, you likely have a great genetic makeup for younger looking skin. If you do, then it’s about making wise decisions about skin care and lifestyle to preserve the skin that your genes already want to keep looking young.

Causes of Face and Skin Wrinkles – Hormonal Aging Can Cause Wrinkles

The hormonal changes that occur before and during menopause have a significant impact on the skin and contribute to the development of lines and wrinkles on the face and body. That’s true for women who aren’t genetically predisposed to the signs of aging and wrinkles early on, as well as for women who use an effective anti-wrinkle skin care regimen. Estrogen is the key to this process. Estrogen is the hormone that encourages and controls collagen production, which keeps the skin firm, soft and supple. During the years that lead up to menopause (the late 20s to the mid-40s), the body continues to produce skin-enhancing estrogen. However, the production at this time decreases significantly. After menopause, collagen production begins to decrease significantly.

When estrogen decreases and a dramatic drop-off in collagen production accompany it, skin can become more fragile and thin with increased wrinkles and sagging. Acne breakouts and facial hair growth may even occur as a result. Because the face has a high concentration of estrogen receptors, skin changes due to hormonal shifts may be the most visible on the face, primarily in the form of deep creases, dull tone and a “crepe-like” texture. Even though menopause is a natural phenomenon and may not be easily avoided, living a healthy lifestyle and using the products that hydrate and strengthen the skin can help minimize its effects. It is therefore very important that when the signs of hormonal aging begin to show up, applying products that hydrate and firm the skin which is specifically formulated to address the signs of Hormonal Aging would be very ideal.

Environmental Factors and Free Radicals Can Cause Wrinkles

Every day when we go about our daily activities we are often exposed to the various causes of face and skin wrinkles like pollutants and UV rays that form free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that are missing an electron. Because free radicals have only one electron, they scavenge them from other molecules, causing a chain reaction. This fight between free radicals damages cell functions and, more importantly, activate the metalloproteinase that break down collagen. While minimizing exposure to UV rays helps, it’s nearly impossible to avoid free radicals altogether since most of us are exposed to pollution and toxins on a daily basis. But antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which are nature’s warriors against free radicals, can counteract their effects. Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants and using antioxidant infused skin care product scan help fight the impact of environmental aging on the skin.

Causes of Face and Skin Wrinkles – Smoking Can Causes Wrinkles

If there is anything you must avoid by all means is smoking cigarettes. Cigarette smoking is very hazardous to your health on many ways. Just a preview of the effects, besides all the side effects you’ve already heard about it, cigarettes contain over 400 types of toxins that trigger biochemical changes in the body which quicken and increase aging. This is well elaborated in various research findings which show that an average smoker of ten sticks daily for ten years will stand a greater chance of developing deep wrinkles and leathery skin than nonsmokers. It is worth noting that even a little smoking will immensely damage your health. Therefore the best you can do for your self is to quit smoking for the well-being of the health of your skin. We appreciate that smoking is very addictive and quitting will not be easy that is why doctor Dalal Akoury is not just a skin care professional but also a substance abuse control experts. When you schedule for a meeting with her, you will be killing several birds with just a single stone. Go ahead and get your life back from this great professional.

Causes of Face and Skin Wrinkles – Repetitive Facial Patterns Can Cause Wrinkles

A lifetime of making the same facial expressions over and over again can cause lines and wrinkles. Each time you use a facial muscle, a groove forms beneath the surface of the skin. For example, repetitive squinting causes frowning lines on the forehead and crow’s feet around the eyes. As the skin ages and elastin decreases, the skin stops “springing” back to its original, line-free state, and the grooves that were once below the skin become fine lines and wrinkles on the surface of the skin. To minimize wrinkles caused by squinting, wear sunglasses or a hat whenever you’re outside during the day. And be sure to minimize stress which causes frown lines–whenever possible to help prevent your facial expressions from becoming permanent lines and wrinkles.

Causes of Face and Skin Wrinkles – When to start using the Ant-aging Products

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders

January 19, 2015

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Skin lightening

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders. Hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin which is the pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their natural colour.

When the skin is affected in whichever way an immediate solution needs to be sort out in good time. Failure to do so may lead to serious repercussions to the delicate organ of the body. And because of the environment we leave in today our skin is one of the most vulnerable to several environmental attacks. One of the risks the skin is likely to suffer from is the hyperpigmentation disorders. Before we get into treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders, we need to have a brief understanding of what is the subject matter. Hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin which is the pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their natural colour. The overproduction of melanin is likely to be triggered by a variety of factors, but the main ones can be linked to:

It is therefore very important to understand that hyperpigmentation problems can be improved or eliminated all together by a variety of treatments, including topical lightening agents, laser-intense pulsed light, cryotherapy and chemical peels. Treating hypopigmentation may be a greater challenge. Nonetheless hypopigmentation after a burn or similar skin injury may resolve itself over time as melanocytes migrate to the damaged area. Current treatments for vitiligo are of limited effectiveness. For many people, camouflaging hypo-pigmented areas with sunless tanning products represents a viable alternative.

Treatment

Hyperpigmentation treatments include:

Topical lightening agents
Laser-intense pulsed light
Cryotherapy and
Chemical peels

None of the methods is optimal for every individual or for every hyperpigmentation problem. We discuss each of the options below.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Topical lightening agents

These are creams or serums used on the skin to help lighten skin and skin pigmentation problems.
They can treat many types of skin pigmentation, including melasma, freckles, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) secondary to lasers, peels and acne.
Ideally, lightening agents do not completely remove pigmentation, but do significantly lighten it.
Pigmentation issues such as freckles or sunspots can be completely removed with laser in most cases.
Topical lightening agents can also be used to prepare the skin for laser treatments. This reduces the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (worsening of pigmentation) after laser treatment, especially for olive to dark skin types.
The first method of treating skin pigmentation is to prevent its appearance or worsening by daily application of sunscreen as well as sun avoidance. Then a topical lightening agent can be used in conjunction with a good sunscreen.

What are the common topical lightening agents? They may include the following:

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Hydroquinone

This is the most widely and successfully used skin lightening agent. It is resourceful in sorting out conditions like melasma or chloasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and other disorders of pigmentation. Over the counter strengths can go up to 2%, but concentrations higher than this require a prescription from a medical professional. Hydroquinone can be quite irritating to the skin resulting in redness or when it comes in contact with dermatitis when used in higher concentrations.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Kojic acid

This is derived from fungus such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. It can be used in concentrations between 1% and 4% and can be compounded with other agents. Nonetheless it can cause skin irritation and therefore, it is not as effective as hydroquinone, but has no chance of rebound pigmentation or ochronosis.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Paper mulberry

Paper mulberry extract is isolated from the roots of an ornamental tree, Broussonetia papyrifera. A Korean study compared it to kojic acid and hydroquinone, and found that only 0.396% paper mulberry was required to inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase that produces melanin, in comparison to 5.5% hydroquinone and 10% kojic acid. Skin irritation with paper mulberry is less than other lightening agents such as hydroquinone. Paper mulberry bark can be found in Enlighten from Osmosis.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Arbutin

Originating from bearberry, Arbutin helps to lighten the skin by inhibition of the enzymes that help produce melanin. It has less irritation than kojic acid and hydroquinone.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It inhibits the transfer of the pigment forming cells, the melanosomes, to the surface of the skin.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C also helps interfere with pigment production. An additional benefit of vitamin C is the anti-oxidant effect it has, so it will help prevent skin from environmental damage. Vitamin C also stimulates the production of collagen. Stability of vitamin C is the main problem of most vitamin C products. Cosmedix provides vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid and is highly stable in this form.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Glycolic acid

This is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) which can have a discohesive effect on the epidermis, or top layer of skin, to help desquamate (exfoliate) the pigmented skin cells. In so doing, it facilitates skin turnover and pigment is lost more rapidly. Glycolic acid is found in varying concentrations in rapid skin care products.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Retinoids

These are derived from vitamin A. Retinoids work in a number of ways to help reduce pigmentation. However the actual mechanism of action is not very clear, but it is believed that their depigmenting properties arise from inhibition of the enzymes causing pigmentation, dispersion of pigment granules in the top layer of skin, and also by accelerating skin turnover to help pigmented skin cells shed more quickly. It is also this final property that helps retinoids smooth skin, reduce wrinkles, and active acne. Retinoids can be irritating to the skin and may need to be commenced slowly.

Finally the business of skin care is not just for any one, it needs professionals with the calling to do the job effectively. That is why Dr. Akoury made a decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. This is the passion am talking about. You can now call the most passionate skin care expert today to schedule for an appointment with her for any skin related concerns.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Skin lightening

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin

January 19, 2015

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Pimples and Wrinkles

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin

Are you sure that the color of your skin is the right one? Do you occasionally or seasonally have skin colour variation? There will be no beauty if the skin color keeps changing. This is one of the biggest concerns to people globally who are very mindful of the beauty of their skin. This concern has triggered the home of skin care solution (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury) to come up with this informative article. In this write up, we will tell you what pigmentation is and also make known to you the effects of pigmentation disorders to the skin. While appreciating that skin pigmentation disorders affect the color of your skin, your skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin. Therefore pigmentation simply means that the coloring effect. Effects of pigmentation disorders to the skin are real and unhealthy. As I had said your skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin made from special cells in the skin. When these cells are damaged or becomes unhealthy, it affects melanin production. It is important to note that some pigmentation disorders will affect just patches of skin while others will affect your whole body.

Therefore those who have darker skin produce more melanin compared to those with lighter skin. Besides that pregnancy, Addison’s disease, and sun exposure all can make your skin darker. In the meantime Vitiligo is a condition that causes patches of light skin. Albinism is a genetic condition affecting a person’s skin. A person with albinism may have no color, lighter than normal skin color, or patchy missing skin color. Infections, blisters and burns can also cause lighter skin. By the way skin pigmentation disorders and irregularities are very common today necessitating the need to adequately understand the effects of pigmentation disorder to the skin.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Hyperpigmentation Disorders

Hyperpigmentation problems are particularly prevalent and many are associated with aging. While the triggers may vary, hyperpigmentation occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) become more active than normal, which leads to the production and deposition of more pigment (melanin). Conversely, hypopigmentation occurs when melanocytes are destroyed. Let us now consider some of the most common pigmentation problems as we progress into the discussion.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Age spots-sun spots (solar lentigines)

These are those conditions which are associated with aging, sun damage and, to a lesser degree, other forms of skin damage. Occasionally they are given a misleading name called liver spots since they are unrelated to the liver and in no way reflect liver function. Age spots colors varies from light brown to black and are mostly located in areas exposed to the sun like the hands, face, and arms. Nonetheless it must be noted that it is not very clear how the sun damage triggers age spots even though UV radiation produces mutations, local inflammation and other changes that increase local proliferation of melanocytes and activate melanin-producing genes. In most cases, age spots are harmless but may be cosmetically frustrating.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Freckles

Freckles (ephelides) are small, pigmented spots containing more melanin than the surrounding skin.
Freckles are not caused by aging or sun damage.
As opposed to age spots, freckles tend to fade with age.
Sun exposure, while not a cause of freckles, typically makes freckles much more prominent.
Freckles are found mainly in fair skinned people and tend to run in families.
The cause of freckles appears to be largely genetic.
Freckles are not considered a skin disorder and are harmless and for this reason, some consider them a cosmetic nuisance.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Melasma and Chloasma

Melasma is a condition characterized by increased tan-like skin pigmentation naturally having irregular, patchy scattering on the skin surface.
Chloasma is a variant of melasma happening mainly in women and associated with increased levels of certain hormones.
Chloasma may be triggered by pregnancy, oral contraceptives and occasionally other hormonal imbalances.

While we are appreciating that hormonal change are the most common cause of melasma and chloasma there are other factors which also plays a role. For instance, a blend of sun damage and certain ingredients found in deodorants, toiletry and other personal care products may result in melasma seemingly due to local sensitization of melanocytes. And yet again in some cases, melasma resolves on its own if the underlying hormonal imbalance is removed like for example when hormonal contraceptives are replaced by a non-hormonal method or after childbirth. If the cause is non-hormonal, avoiding sun exposure and reducing or eliminating suspect skin or body care products may improve melasma. In persistent cases, various methods of skin lightening may be used.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Hypo-pigmentation disorders

Hypo-pigmentation is far less common that hyper-pigmentation. Hypo-pigmentation occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) are either destroyed or stunned into inactivity. This generally occurs either due to serious skin damage like in the case of a burn or ablative laser resurfacing or due to an autoimmune disease where the immune system erroneously attacks melanocytes like in the case of vitiligo.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Prevention of pigmentation disorders

Most hyper-pigmentation problems are either caused or exacerbated by sun exposure. Therefore taking all the necessary sun protection is very important for preventing hyper-pigmentation. Other steps to avoid skin damage should also help. Women with history of chloasma may be able to prevent recurrence by using non-hormonal birth control methods. However before you take that direction, it will be very important that you bring that to the notice of your physician and balanced against the merits and the demerits of the non-hormonal alternatives. Finally this topic of pigmentation is very wide and because of the several coloring effects that come with it due to various factors, it will be very important that you schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today to help you understand the health of your skin for a better and sustainable glowing and healthy skin.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Pimples and Wrinkles

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