Sun Damage and Wrinkles: What Can Dermatologists Do?

We Dermatologists now know that there are what are called "intrinsic" changes that occur in the skin as we get older - like tendency to dryness and thinning of the skin. But Photoaging is a term that Dermatologists use to refer to more severe changes that develop in our skin directly because of damage from ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB rays), including wrinkles, splotchiness of color, or rough thickened areas called solar keratoses. The good news is that in 2018, there are several measures that can both prevent and help photoaging.

One of the best moves to deal with photoaging is to prevent it. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher, such as Vanicream Sunscreen Sport SPF 35, available from Big River Silk Skincare Inc. (www.Bigriversilkskincare.com: 4 oz: $17.95) every 90 minutes when out between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Many excellent broad-spectrum and sweat-resistant sunscreens are now available from your local pharmacy or over the intent. Other tips:

Wear sun-protective clothing. Plan vacation activities towards the beginning or end of the day. Wear a hat or a cap.

But maybe you or a family member has started to develop some photoaging. What can you do now? One first move could be to use what's called an Alpha-Hydroxy-containing cream at night, such as GLYCOSHEA™ Facial&Neck Cream or GLYCOSHEA™ Hand&Body Cream, available from Big River Silk Skincare Inc. (www.Bigriversilkskincare.com) at night. Other options include lactic acid-containing creams, or pyruvic acid-containing creams.

The GLYCOSHEA Creams are available on-site at Big River Silk Skincare Inc. Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM (Facial&Neck: 1 oz($39.95), 2 oz ($59.95), 8 oz ($179.95; Hand&Body/Standard Strength: 1 oz($19.95); 2 oz ($29.95); 8 oz ($89.95); Hand&Body/High Strength: 1 oz($29.95); 2 oz($44.95), 8 oz($134.95). We do offer free USPS Shipping for orders over $40.00. Many oher helpful products are available through your local pharmacy or cosmetics counter.

And if your photoaging is more severe, helpful options include seeing a Dermatologist for one of several prescription products, such as the only FDA-approved prescription product for both fine and deep wrinkles: Tretinoin Cream (Retin A or Renova Cream), or prescription-strength Hydroquinone Cream, or even a chemical peel, such as a Glycolic Acid Peel, or a Trichloroacetic Acid Peel. .

Other options include Botox® Injections, Dysport® Injections, and Xeomin® Injections, use of prescription soft-tissue fillers such as Juvederm®, Restylane®, Radiesse®, Sculptra®, Zyderm®, or Zyplast® , or even surgical procedures such as facelifts.

So maybe it's best to consider getting an evaluation from one of the over 13,000 Board-Certified Dermatologists in the United States. You can find one in your own zip code by going to the American Academy of Dermatology's web site, to the tab for "Public," to "Find a Dermatologist." The American Society of Dermatologic Surgery also has an excellent tab on their web site for "Find a Dermatologic Surgeon," by zip code. Now's a great time to be proactive!

George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (10/21/2018)

Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates PC

8143 Walnut Grove Road

Cordova TN 38018 1-901-753-0168

Info@rheumderm.com