AGE SPOTS AND SKIN TAGS

 Ask Suzy Cohen
By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph., Lifescript Pharmacist
Published April 23, 2011

Dear Suzy Cohen,
I used to have beautiful skin. Now as I get older I notice more and more age spots. My questions: How to get rid of age spots and stop more from forming? Why do some people get skin tags as they age?

-K.S. Lodi, California

Hi K.S.
Fortunately, skin tags and age spots are benign. A visit to your dermatologist is the quickest and easiest way to eliminate either problem.

In just one or two visits your doctor can snip or freeze away most skin tags and literally erase age spots with a laser beam. Snip, zap and your skin is clear. These are minor procedures and not too expensive.

Age spots, the discolorations that appear mostly on hands and face as we age, are pigment deposits resulting from a lifetime of sun exposure. These pesky little spots are nature’s way of saying that you’ve overdone it.

Over-the-counter bleaching creams with either hydroquinone or kojic acid aren’t going to perform any miracles, but they aren’t harmful either. They help lighten the appearance of age spots. They take time and their effect is mild. Follow label directions and discontinue use if they irritate your skin.

Some people have reported success with an old-fashioned treatment for age spots – castor oil. Simply rub the oil on the spots a couple times a day for several weeks and see if it helps to fade them. I like this remedy because the oil-derived from the castor bean is kind to many skin conditions.

Skin tags, those unsightly little tabs that appear mainly on face, hands, and chest seem to arise more frequently during middle age and in those who are overweight. Almost half the adult population seems to have at least a few.

One dermatologist-approved technique to remove larger skin tags is to gently tie them off with string or dental floss. Apparently, they drop off in a couple of days.

Please don’t attempt this for tags in awkward locations, like the eyelids. Better yet, ask your dermatologist if this home remedy is OK.

Until now, medical science believed that skin tags happen when sensitive skin is rubbed or irritated. But in 2010, Brazilian researchers found that multiple skin tags are “strongly associated” with insulin resistance, a condition that foreshadows the development of diabetes. Your doctor can test you for this condition.

Want to know more? Get your own copy of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Drug Muggers: How To Keep Your Medicine From Stealing the Life Out of You!

MY THOUGHTS

In case you're wondering, here are some pics

FROM herbalgranny.com

from homeremediesweb.com

Eye skin tag from hubpages.com

skin tags from coppertrees.com

5 Steps For Younger Looking Hands

5 Steps For Younger Looking Hands
By Jen Adkins, About.com Guide

Most of us try our hardest to stop the clock in our face, but one of the places that shows aging the most is your hands. You make sure to moisturize, exfoliate and apply sunscreen to your face and neck on a regular basis, but do you remember to do the same to your hands? Chances are good, if you’re like most people, the answer is no. Make today the day that you include your hands in your skin care regime so you can knock back a few years. With regular care, you’ll notice younger looking hands.

Protect Your Hands From the Elements

Be it cold weather or hot dish water, protect your hands. The skin on your hands is very thin and not protecting them will cause aging.

When you’re scrubbing the pots and pans in hot water or cleaning with bleach, put on some rubber or latex gloves to keep the hot water and chemicals off your skin. In the cold winter weather, wear your gloves.

Product Pick - Gloveables (compare prices) are perfect for protecting your hands and looking cute while doing the dishes.

Exfoliate Your Hands

Think about how great your face or body feels after you exfoliate. Exfoliating removes the dead layer of skin leaving only smooth new skin. If you don’t remove that layer of skin, the lotion has to work its way though it. When you exfoliate your hands at least once a week, you’ll instantly notice smoother hands.
Product Pick - Sephora: Hand Scrub (buy direct)

Keep Lotion by Your Sink

You may start off the day with moisturizer on your hands, but after you wash, the moisturizer goes down the drain with the soap.

By keeping a lotion at your sink, you’ll get into the habit of applying lotion after you wash and dry your hands. You’ll definitely notice an immediate difference after just one day.

Product Pick - CAUDALIE Hand & Nail Cream (buy direct)

Moisturize Your Cuticles.

Trimming your cuticles is a bit of a controversy, so keeping them hydrated will keep that dry, scaly, jagged look at bay. This is easy to do a couple times a week before bed.

Using a cuticle and nail oil, swipe a bit on the cuticle and rub in. Not only will you keep your cuticles soft, but your nails will get some extra attention as well.

Product Pick - Essie Cuticle Pen (buy direct)

Apply Sunscreen to Your Hands Every Day

Your hands are exposed to the sun every time you are outside; specifically when you're driving your car. And we all know from our facial care, sun is the biggest cause of premature aging.

It might take some time to remember, but if you apply sunscreen to your hands on a regular basis, I promise you’ll be happy you did; especially when you notice how great your hands look. Keep a small bottle by your keys so you don’t forget.

Product Pick - ANEW ULTIMATE Transforming Hand and Nail Cream SPF 15 (buy direct)

MY THOUGHT

there isindeed an upside when you live in tight spaces.  no pots and pans to wash. i have no stove. meaning i don't cook (i know, a lousy excuse- truth is i can't). no washing of clothes since there's no space for a washing machine.  laundry is so cheap so why bother. but hey!  i agree, need to take care of the hands.  love it when i go to my mom's house.  there's time for a real manicure.  in the city, it's home care.  i've never really exfoliated my hands.  i massage with lotion though just before bedtime.  which reminds me...