While only a couple centimeters thick, skin is the
human body’s largest organ. When you think about it,
our whole body is held together and protected by layers of skin.
Our skin helps keep our body at just the right temperature
and allows us to have the sense of touch. Skin is the protective
barrier between the outside world and vital organs, tissue, bone
and blood.
As we age, our skin thins, wrinkles and sags, becomes rougher
and drier and loses its elasticity. The total effect of sun exposure,
smoking, disease, poor nutrition, heredity and lifestyle behaviors
lead to premature aging of the skin as well as many skin conditions
including skin cancer.
“Every day I see patients with skin conditions that can affect
their physical and emotional health,” said Dr. Faris Hawit, a
board-certified dermatologist with Calvert Dermatology and Skin
Cancer Center in Prince Frederick. “Just as with heart health and
cancer prevention, there are many steps we can take to keep our
skin healthy as we age,” he said.
Sun Exposure
The number-one factor in keeping skin youthful and healthy is
protecting it from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sun
exposure, and the number-one factor in how your body processes
sun exposure is the amount of melanin in your skin. People who
have dark skin tones believe they are not at risk for skin cancer.
However, in a study in the Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology (AAD), melanoma -- a form of skin caner -- can be
more detrimental in people of color because it is often detected in
later stages than those who have fair skin.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the sun’s UV rays can cause damage to your skin in as little
as 15 minutes—this applies to UV rays in tanning beds as well. A
history of sunburns, especially early in life, can increase a person’s
risk of getting skin cancer, which is the most commonly diagnosed
cancer in the U.S.
By using broad spectrum sunscreen, wearing protective
clothing, or avoiding the full sun during the hours between 11 a.m.
and 4 p.m., you can reduce the risk of skin damage. Tinted sun
blocks can give skin a healthy glow without damaging skin.
Medical Conditions
According to the AAD, skin can often show signs of internal
distress before diseases have been diagnosed. For example, yellow or waxy looking bumps on shins, skin tags and a thickening
of velvety skin on the back of the neck and armpits can be a
marker of high blood sugar/diabetes.
Yellow, waxy bumps under the eyelids, could indicate high
triglyceride levels or a sign of uncontrolled diabetes.
Darkening or discoloration of the skin on legs and ankles
caused by varicose veins or other circulatory problems can lead
to swelling that blocks blood flow to the skin, and can also be a
symptom of diabetes.
Eczema, a chronic inflammatory condition, is linked
to sleep disturbances and joint problems. Psoriasis, an
autoimmune disorder, occurs alongside arthritis or other joint
diseases, and recent studies have linked it to heart disease,
stroke and poor blood pressure management.
Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the skin. The A,
B, C, D, E characteristics of possible cancers are lesions
‘A’symmetrical in shape, with a jagged ‘B’order, presence of
more than one ‘C’olor and are greater ‘D’iameter than the size
of a pencil eraser. The most important characteristic, according
to Hawit, is ‘E’volution—a change in a mole or area of the skin.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol and drug use,
affect skin’s appearance and health. According to the National
Institutes of Health, tobacco smoke quickens the natural
process of skin aging and changes or intensifies the course
of many skin diseases including cancer. Nicotine, both in
traditional and e-cigarettes, reduces nutritional blood flow to
the skin which impacts healing of wounds.
Alcohol dehydrates the body in general, including skin
and will cause wrinkles and pores to be more visible. Not only
does drinking alcohol agitate healthy skin, it also aggravates
skin conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis. Substances
in tobacco products, e-cigarettes, alcohol and narcotics will
change the outward appearance and health of skin.
Nutrition
Nutrition plays an important role in overall skin health and
dermatologists recommend a low-glycemic diet for optimal
nourishment of skin.
According to researchers at Georgetown University School
of Medicine, healthy dietary changes may serve as a component
of therapy for certain skin conditions, including acne, aging
skin, psoriasis and rosacea. Where certain nutrients, foods
or dietary patterns may act as ‘triggers’ for certain skin
conditions, the researchers noted, the avoidance or elimination
of certain foods can be part of an overall treatment plan.
For optimal skin health, avoid foods with the highest
glycemic load, such as high-sugar drinks, candy, sweetened
fruit juice, white rice and white pasta, French fries, pizza
and raisins.
“Although the link between diet and skin conditions is still
under study, we do know that what is good for overall health,
like reducing or eliminating risks for heart disease, diabetes
and cancers, is also good for your skin,” said Hawit.