Category: Clinical Dermatology

What it is and what causes it 

Adult acne is acne that occurs after the age of 25. For the most part, the same factors that cause teenage acne play a role in adult acne. The four factors that directly contribute to acne are: excess sebum production, clogged pores, bacteria and inflammation. 

There are also some indirect factors, including hormones, stress and the menstrual cycle in women, as well as skin care products and makeup, which can clog pores. In some people, consumption of sugar and dairy products is associated with flare-ups. Certain medications, including corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, and lithium, can also cause acne.

Acne and underlying conditions

Many skin disorders, including acne, can be signs of various diseases. For example, hair loss, excessive hair growth, irregular menstrual cycles, rapid weight gain or loss, combined with acne without a previous history, may be signs of an underlying disease such as polycystic ovary syndrome or endocrine disorders. Let your doctor know if you experience additional symptoms, as proper diagnosis is of utmost importance in treating the problem. 

Treatment of acne

There are many treatment options for adult acne. Consult your Dermatologist as treatment depends on the type and severity of acne. 

He can prescribe you local medicinal preparations or recommend specialized treatments, such as chemical peels, laser treatments, etc. which will help with acne treatment.

Prevention

Some things you can do to reduce your risk of acne:

• Never go to bed wearing makeup, but clean your face thoroughly every night. 
• When shopping for cosmetics and skin care products, look for the phrases “non-comedogenic” or “non-pore-clogging”. 
• Avoid face oils and hair products that contain oils
• Wear sunscreen with SPF 50+ daily 
• Finally, there is evidence that specific dietary changes may help, such as reducing dairy products and foods with a high glycemic index (those that cause blood sugar levels to rise more quickly). 

What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious disease that occurs on the skin, joints and nails. It is an autoimmune disease, that is, it is caused by an overstimulation of the immune system.

The exact cause of psoriasis is not known, but it is linked to heredity. Of course there are triggering factors, such as skin injuries, infections and viruses, endocrine factors or taking certain medications, alcohol abuse and even stress.

Symptoms
Psoriasis causes the skin cells in the top layer of the skin to overproliferate, resulting in psoriatic plaques—red patches covered in silvery or white scales—hard-to-the-touch, flaky or scaly patches. It appears anywhere on the body but most often on places like the elbows, knees, head, and even the palms and soles of the feet. The skin is hard and cracked and often itches. Sometimes the patient may develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. It can also affect the nails.

Living with the disease
As with other chronic autoimmune diseases, psoriasis can affect emotional health, interpersonal relationships, and the way one handles stress. For some people, living with psoriasis can be a challenge, especially in the summer when we dress lightly or in swimwear. As there is a false stigma attached to psoriasis, in the minds of many it is associated with scabies and there is a fear of contagion. As a result, patients with psoriasis often experience feelings of anxiety, shame, beach shyness, depression, isolation or fear.

However, there are several ways to manage the disease so that the patient suffering from psoriasis can have a quality life and the support they need. It is important with proper information to consolidate the perception in society that it is not a contagious disease. Many patients consult a psychologist if they feel they need more help with the psychological part of disease management.

It is especially beneficial for the psoriasis sufferer to find the right communities and talk with fellow sufferers, because in this way different stories are heard in the light of the common experience of the disease and understanding is broadened. The psychological support one receives by participating in patient groups offers hope and solidarity. There are patient networks that offer information and support, such as the Panhellenic Association of Patients with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, "Epidermia".

Types of psoriasis and treatment
There are different types of psoriasis and it is possible for someone to have more than one type at the same time - as well as more than one type in their lifetime.

Monitoring the course of the disease by a dermatologist experienced in psoriasis is the key to finding the right treatment to keep the symptoms of psoriasis under control. It is important to make regular appointments for re-evaluation of the treatment you are following to discuss with your doctor how the particular treatment is working and how the body is reacting to it.

As it is a chronic disease, it is important that the patient has - in addition to an excellent Dermatologist - patience, valid information and the support of family and friends, which can be invaluable.

The sun may cause well-being, but the photodamaging effects of solar radiation on the skin cause photoaging. 

What is photoaging? 

Photoaging affects the appearance, texture and elasticity of the skin. Photoaged skin is rough and dry, due to the destruction of the hydrolipidic film and thickening of the stratum corneum.

Wrinkles appear caused by the loss of collagen and elastin as well as dehydration. We also observe discolorations and panades, i.e. brown skin lesions which are noticeable to the eye. Discolorations are due to the increase of melanocytes or the excessive production of melanin in the specific part of the skin. 

In cases of chronic, severe sun damage, larger 'blackheads' appear on the oiliest areas of the face, such as the nose and forehead. Sun marks (or hyperkeratosis) are caused by DNA damage of cells that have absorbed radiation and are associated with skin cancer.

Another symptom of photoaging is the sagging, either of the skin of the face, which is exposed to the sun every day, or of the skin of the neck, where we often forget to apply sunscreen. Especially in the skin of the neck, elasticity occurs, a phenomenon called 'turkey neck' or 'goosebumps' and is seen on the neck and décolleté.

Finally, the color of the skin may turn yellow and appear pale, as it has a deficiency in blood vessels, due to the damage they suffered during exposure to the sun.

Treatments for photoaging

The repair of sun-damaged skin is done with the appropriate treatment that the Dermatologist will indicate to you. There are various treatments that treat photoaging, with great results, but there is no one-size-fits-all treatment as it depends on your skin type. 

Consult one of them Our dermatologists, who have many years of experience in the repair sun damage and they will design the right personalized treatment protocol for you.

The xanthemas appear as yellow spots or plaques and are usually found in eyelid skin. They consist of cholesterol and in a percentage of about 50% of the patients it is an indication that the cholesterol in the blood is high. For this reason, patients with xanthelasma should have their blood lipids checked. Xanthelasma do not disappear on their own, but instead may grow larger over time or even multiply.

They are most commonly found in middle age and more often on women, as well as in people of Mediterranean and Asian origin. These accumulations of cholesterol under the skin are removed for cosmetic reasons.

Xanthelasma can be treated in a number of ways. With all of them treatments there is a chance that they will reappear if the person has the tendency, usually in a few years.

Their most effective treatment is achieved with CO2 laser, which destroys the xanthelasma causing the skin to sublimate resulting in the elimination of the damage. After the treatment there is a crust in the area of the xanthelasma which subsides after a week leaving new skin in its place. The advantage of CO2 Laser treatment is the preservation of the entire surface area of the skin, since the skin regenerates from its basal layer and is not removed. So if the xanthelasma recurs it can be repeated.
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel, a chemical substance that causes peeling of skin layers and destruction of xanthelasma at the same time.
Diathermocoagulation during which the xanthelasma is cauterized with the use of an electric current that is transferred with an electrode to the skin. This is a technique that has largely been replaced by the CO2 Laser.
Finally, the surgical removal is a traditional method of treating xanthelasma. The lesion is removed and the skin is sutured. With all treatments, xanthelasma can recur, and this method has limitations on how many times it can be repeated, since skin is removed with each procedure.
The treatment of xanthelasma is done with local anesthesia which is applied either in the form of a cream or in an injectable form. It is very well tolerated and leaves an excellent aesthetic result when performed by a specialist dermatologist. Recovery time is approximately 7-10 days, during which time local care of the area with an antibiotic cream is required. Sun protection is necessary until the skin fully returns to its normal state.