What Are Common Age-Related Skin Disorders?

What Are Common Age-Related Skin Disorders?

1. Skin Disorders in Children

During specific times of life, many skin disorders are more likely to develop in children.

Two conditions are more common during childhood stages. These include Hemangiomas, Measles, Impetigo, and Dermatomyositis. Let’s see them in detail one by one. 

1. Hemangiomas

These are tumors seen on the neck, head, or face of infants. They start as minor scratches or bumps and lastly come out and become larger growths. They can be formed on any body organ other than the skin. Their appearance is more common on the liver. Hemangiomas mostly disappear on their own by the age of 10 years. They are usually harmless. Anybody may choose to have them removed by reliable dermatologists. 

2. Measles

Measles is another airborne viral illness, and it is highly infectious. Vaccination in the U.S protects most people from getting measles, mumps, and rubella diseases. Without the vaccination, people, pregnant women, and babies too young are susceptible to it.

The most common symptoms of measles include

• Red or brown rashes that spread down the body

• Fever

• Watery eyes

• Runny nose c

• Cough

• Some small reddish spots inside the mouth

As there is no cure for this disease, skin specialists notice the symptoms and monitor them to prevent further complications.

3. Impetigo

It is the most common skin infection in children. Typically, it is a contagious bacterial infection. Its symptoms are

• Itchy sores

• Blisters around the mouth region or anywhere on the face

• Bursting of sores and leaving a crust

• The crust dries

• A red mark is left

That red mark usually fades without scarring. Dermatologists typically recommend certain antibiotics for their treatment. 

4. Dermatomyositis

It is a rare inflammatory disease. It is most common in adults aged 40- 60 years and children aged 5- 15 years. Its symptoms include

• Red to a purple rash on the chest

• Face

• Nails

• Elbow

• Inflammation

• Muscle weakness

• Swelling

That disease is also uncurable. But treatments can help in reducing its effects. Some research shows that African Americans may have chances of this skin disorder three times more than the white people in the country.

2. Skin Disorders in Adults

1. Shingles

A virus named Varicella-zoster, which causes chickenpox is primarily responsible for shingles in people. When a person suffers from chickenpox in childhood, the virus usually stays in such people after recovery. It then moves to their nerves, where it can become reactive and cause shingles at some point later in their life. Mainly it occurs in older adults. Its symptoms 

• Starts with a painful sensation

• Then within two days, blisters with rashes appear

• Blisters are reddish and widespread

However, those rashes may be harder to see on people with darker skin tones. Within the first 48 hours of the rash development, antiviral treatment can help limit the additional pain of the patient. Additionally, there is a vaccine available worldwide that helps in preventing shingles. Skin specialists should guide older adults about having this vaccine.

2. Seborrheic Keratosis

These are bumps that generally appear with growing age. They are harmless with prominent symptoms of bumpy patches of skin that may be either yellow, dark brown, or black. Moreover, it is difficult for someone to distinguish between seborrheic keratosis and skin cancer. Only high-qualified and experienced dermatologists can diagnose between these two. People have the option to remove them with cryotherapy or electrosurgery.

3. Age spots

Age spots, also known as liver spots, are flat in shape. They have more pigment as compared to surrounding skin. People who have lighter skin tones mostly get them after constant exposure to the sun over the years.

Moreover, people who have darker skin tones also develop these age spots. The environmental trigger causes their skin to produce more melanin than average. There are many reasons for it, some of which may include 

• healing wound

• pimples

• hormonal changes

• irritation from a skincare product

In general, these spots do not need any treatment. But still, a person has the choice to have them removed.

3. Skin Disorders in Older People 

Our skin changes in different ways as we age. That can make our skin more disposed to various skin diseases. Some primary reasons behind this are that older skin

1. Is less oily

2. Becomes thinner

3. Have less elasticity

4. Bruises easily

5. Takes a long time to heal when wounded. 

Moreover, in older adults, skin disorders are common. Some research has shown the connection between aging and skin diseases. These researches are based on collection from specific groups of older adults. Out of them, some results are taken from home residents and others who have been treated in hospitals for their skin problems by skin specialists. 

From these researches for large groups of older adults, it is concluded that the most common skin diseases in older people are

1. Eczema

2. Skin infections

3. Pruritus (a dehydrated and itchy skin condition)

Recent research also shows that people who suffer from these diseases are in the 70s and older. That research is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Other Popular Age-Related Skin Conditions

In addition to unavoidable symptoms of aging skin, some skin conditions are more likely to develop as we get older. These symptoms include

1. Seborrheic keratosis – It is a type of benign skin tumor. It seems like a brown wart.

2. Solar keratosis – Skin spots are scaly, dry, and inflamed in this condition. Mostly it is on the bridge of the nose, upper lips, cheeks, and back of hands. These spots can later develop into skin cancer. So be careful and consult dermatologists as soon as possible. 

3. Bowen’s disease - A slowly growing and scaly skin patch is formed in this condition. People often think it is due to exposure to the sun, but it may be pre-cancerous change. Thus, it should essentially be checked by doctors at an earlier stage. 

Skin cancer - a very severe type of skin disorder that includes basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, all of which require proper treatment by a reliable skin specialist.