How does aging skin show?
When the skin becomes "more colorful", with pigmentation spots, age spots or even small whitish spots, when it becomes thinner and wrinkles form, translucent veins or bruises appear even after the smallest bumps, these are the warning signs of photodamage to the skin.
Pronounced photodamage in the sense of poikiloderma
Such light damage is a serious warning sign. The corresponding people are at high risk of soon developing skin cancers and should be thoroughly examined by a dermatologist at least once a year.
But nevertheless be careful with so-called "age spots"! It is not so rare that behind such so-called "age spots" a malignant black skin cancer (malignant melanoma) is hidden. A careful light microscopic and, if necessary, histological examination is therefore an absolute prerequisite before laser treatment.
The face, back of the hands and forearms are predominantly affected, i.e. the areas that are most exposed to sunlight. If a reddening or scab does not disappear after months or keeps coming back, it is high time to go to the dermatologist.
For lighter stages
- with incipient wrinkles and pigment spots, creams with radical scavengers or pigment lightening substances can be used.
For medium stages
- Peeling with fruit acids or TCA Laser
- Wrinkle treatment with the wrinkle laser
- Pigment treatment with pigment laser
- Laser treatment of red veins.
For more severe light damage
Yes. The most important thing is consistent light protection, especially if you are one of those people who have sun-sensitive skin or spend a lot of time outdoors: this includes, above all, avoiding sunbathing, especially at midday, wearing hats or caps and using light protection creams with UV-B filters between 60 and 100 and UV-A filters of at least 10. You should not start with these measures only when light damage has already occurred, but much earlier, preferably from childhood. Because: it usually takes 10-20, sometimes even 30 years, until light damage and possibly later skin cancer develop.
