Aging With Health And Beauty – How To Treat Common Skin Disorders Of The Elderly
As the years pass by and your body becomes older, so does your skin. In fact, as the largest organ in the body, the skin is one of the most susceptible organs to the effects of aging. With this in mind, it is very important to learn early on what you can do to prevent and treat common age-related skin disorders.
Here are some of the most common skin disorders faced by the elderly and how to treat them.
Pre-Cancerous Spots
Skin cancer is one of the most serious health problems facing seniors today. However, when caught in its earliest stages, skin cancer can be very effectively controlled and treated. Pre-cancerous spots, known as “pre-cancers” often come as a result of excess exposure to harmful UV sun rays. These spots are generally easy to identify because they can appear scaly and discolored.
If you notice any of these unusual skin spots, take action immediately. If pre-cancers are left untreated, skin cancer may follow. The spots are usually professionally removed using one of the following methods:
- Liquid nitrogen freezing
- Chemotherapy cream
- Skin resurfacing techniques
Skin Cancer
The sooner skin cancer is treated the better. In fact, individuals who undergo treatment early on have a 95% success rate.
Today, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, especially in senior aged individuals with a fair complexion. Most of the time, this type of skin cancer is identified by an unusual, shiny bump on the surface of the skin, or a small bleeding area. It is most common to appear on the chest, neck, or head.
The most serious form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma. Luckily, this form is far less common and usually only affects individuals who received severe sunburns as a child. Malignant melanoma is often seen as a dark skin growth with an irregular shape. Because of its dark color, melanoma is often mistaken for a simple mole. If you notice any change in an existing mole, or find a mole that did not exist before, seek medical attention immediately.
Because of its serious nature, skin cancer is usually surgically removed.