Skin Care And Repair: Skin Health

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Skin Care and Repair

All your life, your skin has been making a first impression for you. It can reveal whether you're hot or cold, tired or rested, sick or healthy. As you age, your skin changes in response to the elements that assail it, particularly the sun. On the inside, you may feel as good as ever, but the toll of years on your skin may send a different message. Medical conditions ranging from dryness to skin cancer become more likely. Meanwhile, cosmetic changes alter the tone and contour of your skin.

To some extent, your genes determine how well your skin stands the test of time. But environmental factors play a big role as well. Each year, physicians diagnose more than one million cases of two highly curable forms of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. But for nearly 45,000 people, the diagnosis will be melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer. For the past three decades, melanoma cases have increased by about 3% per year. That's why it's so important to take steps to prevent skin cancer by avoiding the sun's ultraviolet rays, and this report describes the most effective ways to do so.

There has been significant progress in treating aging skin and skin disorders, including cancer. In addition to treatments for medical conditions, effective techniques that rejuvenate the skin are rapidly entering the market. But it's important to choose your treatments with care. Check and double-check the reputation and accreditation of clinicians performing invasive skin procedures. Choose skin care products wisely. The market for anti-aging creams and cosmetic surgery is skyrocketing. Anti-aging skin care products comprise an estimated $1.6 billion market worldwide. Cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections and laser therapy to improve the skin's appearance rose to 4.9 million in 2005 in the United States, a 20% increase since 2003.

This report will help you make informed choices about skin protection, procedures, products, and treatments. You'll find authoritative, up-to-date information about the ingredients in lotions and creams that help reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging. A detailed section on techniques ranging from laser resurfacing to cosmetic fillers can help you decide whether such procedures might be right for you. These are highly personal decisions. Whatever choices you make, you have more options today than ever before.

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Last updated:	July 20, 2007