Answers For Your Health 

 Wrinkles and Over 40 Skin Care

Resources

 American Academy of Dermatology

1350 I St. NW, Suite 870

Washington, DC 20005-4355

(202) 842-3555 (202) 842-4355 Fax http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery

5550 Meadowbrook Dr.

Suite 120\line Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Phone: 847-956-0900\line Fax 847-956-0999

American Association of Plastic Surgeons

900 Cummings Center Suite 221-U

Beverly, MA 01915\line Phone: 978-927-8330\line Fax: 978-524-8890

Wrinkles and Over 40 Skin Care

Definitions

Rosacea

A chronic skin disorder that often affects the forehead, cheekbones, nose and chin.  Capillaries close to the surface of the skin become dilated, resulting in blotchy red areas with small bumps.  Sometimes the area may also contain pimples.  The skin tissue may swell and thicken.  It may also be sensitive to touch.

Psoriasis (Tabors Medical Dictionary)

A common chronic disease of the skin consisting of erythematous papules which coalesce to form plaques with distinct borders.  As the disease progresses and if it is untreated, a silvery, yellow-white scale develops.  New lesions tend to appear at sites of trauma; they may be in any location, but frequently are located on the scalp, knees, elbows, umbilicus, and genitalia.

The clinical course is variable but less than one-half of the patients followed for a prolonged period will have prolonged remissions.  Severity may range from a minimal cosmetic problem to a life-threatening emergency.  In about 5% of cases arthritis will develop and in most of these joint involvement will occur after the onset of the skin lesions.  The course of the arthritis is mild affects only a few joints and spontaneous remissions occur. 

Xerosis

Abnormal dryness of skin, mucous membranes, or of the conjunctiva.  Normal sclerosis of tissues in the aged.

Pruritus

Severe itching.  May be a symptom of a disease process such as allergic response or may be due to emotional factors.

Ichthyosis

Condition in which the skin is dry and scaly, resembling fish skin. A mild non-hereditary form is Xeroderma.  This is often seen on the legs of older people, especially during the winter months.  It is more prevalent in those who bathe frequently.

Eczema

Term is sometimes used interchangeably with dermatitis, although doctors define it as a specific type of dermatitis - fluid-filled blisters that weep, ooze, and crust over.