Dermatoheliosis

Dermatoheliosis General Information

Dermatoheliosis (more commonly referred to as “photoaging”) is an affection of the skin caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight over a person’s lifetime. Generally, it is caused by the effect of the ultraviolet rays on the skin, and is manifested through the appearance of wrinkles, age spots and a general loss to the youthful aspect of the skin. While it is ascertained that in most cases, these are signs of natural aging and cannot be avoided, some of them are caused by sunlight and can be prevented.

One of the layers of the skin, the dermis, is the one responsible for the vigorous and youthful aspect of the skin. When UV hits the skin, the dermis cells are responsible for producing melanin - giving the skin the specific “tanned” color – which is the natural protection of the skin against UV radiation. This radiation damages the collagen fibers in the dermis, weakening the skin’s elasticity and in time causing the wrinkles and the general leathery aspect of the skin which is one of the signs of Dermatoheliosis.

Apart from the damage to the collagen fibers, sun exposure is also the main cause of the appearance of the so-called “age spots” on the face, arms, hands and back. These spots are solar lentigos – spots where the sun exposure altered the skin pigmentation, and unfortunately there is no way to reverse the process returning the skin to the initial aspect.

Dermatoheliosis Symptoms

While most of the symptoms of Dermatoheliosis coincide with the normal symptoms of aging in both men and women, usually sun exposure causes them to appear faster than normal in what is often called a premature aging of the patient. Thin lines are formed around the person’s eyes and lips, which gradually become more and more pronounced until they confer the person a much older aspect than their actual natural age. Apart from the wrinkles, the skin begins losing its elasticity and natural shine, and a general leathery aspect replaces its youthful look. At the same time, spots may start appearing on the face, neck, hands, arms, legs and backs of Dermatoheliose-affected patients – the so called “age spots” or “liver spots”, although they are not related to any liver affections. In other cases, the skin color turns to a yellowy shade – it is just a different form of UV-induced alteration of the skin’s pigmentation. Apart from the aspect and color, affected skin also becomes dry and rough to the touch, as the malfunctioning skin cells increase in number.

One of the most severe effects of photoaging on the skin is the general lowering of the skin defenses, especially against skin cancer, increasing the risk of skin affections at a later stage in life. Dermatologists have classified the people in 6 types, based on their susceptibility to suffer more or less from Dermatoheliosis – types I and II are the most affected by this condition, due to their light complexion as the skin offers little resistance to the radiation, while types V and VI, namely the dark-brown and black skinned people, have a very high resistance to UV rays and are well protected against the effects of photoaging.

Dermatoheliosis Treatment

Although at this time there is no actual treatment for Dermatoheliosis, the only way to efficiently fight this affection is to prevent it by employing proper protection against sun radiation. Apart from general avoidance of the sun, especially at the peak radiation hours (between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.), there are numerous means that can be employed for protection if avoiding the sun is not possible. These means of protection are either chemical or physical, and should never be disregarded. It should be noted that artificial UV sources are equally hazardous, as they have the same effect on the human skin as natural radiation.

Physical protection comes under the form of protective clothing which offers maximum coverage of the body against sun radiation – and thus against Dermatoheliosis - , such as large-brimmed hats and long-sleeved shirts. Parasols may be employed as well, offering some extra protection. Protective sunglasses are also recommended, in order to protect the eyes and the skin around them from the damaging effects of UV radiation.

Chemical protection against Dermatoheliosis is found under the form of various sunscreens, creams and lotions that are available in a wide range on the market. You should always check the label of the product or the specifications that come with it, in order to ensure that you are adequately protected against sun radiation. It is recommended that you select a product with a SPF of 15 or higher, as it will provide safety against the harmful effects of radiation.

Radiation has been proven to have more serious and long-term effects in children. Studies have shown that 80% of the sun exposure is received until the age of 18. It is highly advised that parents are properly instructed regarding the safety of their children, and they should employ UV protection at all times when exposure to radiation is unavoidable. In most cases of skin cancer, a very high factory consisted of the weakening of the skin’s resistance by overexposure to sun radiation during early childhood.

Although the affection cannot be cured, often patients will opt for attempting to improve the appearance of Dermatoheliosis-affected skin. Some results have been obtained by using ointments and creams, but they are not able to reverse any of the effects of the affection, not even in the mild cases. Also, make-up is usually the “weapon of choice” in order to mask the aged aspect of the skin. The recent breakthroughs in plastic surgery have offered some possibilities to cover or partially repair the effects of Dermatoheliosis on the skin. The most common procedures are laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and chemical peel, and they consist of removing the top layers of the skin in order to allow new skin to replace the damaged one. Although they have notable results, their cost may be prohibitive for the majority of population.