Care of the skin at midlife: Diagnosis of pigmented lesions

Marsha L. Gordon, Melanie S. Hecker

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Intrinsic skin changes with advancing years include dryness, decreasing elasticity, increasing skin fragility, and more prominent vasculature. Extrinsic skin aging, caused primarily by cigarette smoking and exposure to sunlight, includes mottled pigmentation and yellow discoloration, rough leathery textural changes, and wrinkling. Major premalignant and malignant neoplasms in photodamaged skin are actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Nonmalignant lesions include solar lentigines and seborrheic keratoses. The A, B, C, D criteria can assist in the evaluation of pigmented nevi. Physicians play an important role in educating patients about the health risks associated with excessive sun exposure and about sun protection to prevent further skin damage.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)56-68
Number of pages13
JournalGeriatrics
Volume52
Issue number8
StatePublished - 1997

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Care of the skin at midlife: Diagnosis of pigmented lesions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this