Moles: A mole, also known as nevus, is a benign tumor that doesn’t contain cancerous cells and does not pose any health risk. Most moles typically occur in childhood or adolescence and do not change their size, shape or color.
The nevi can be removed through surgery, but only if they cause discomfort or are unaesthetic. Moles are not a cause for worry; however, if you have more than 50 moles on your body, you are more prone to developing melanoma.
Skin Melanoma: The skin melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. The melanoma is a colored tumor with asymmetrical shape that grows at a fast rate and may spread to other areas of the body. The melanoma may start off by looking just like a mole, but will develop quickly and may change its shape, size and color. Melanomas may bleed.
There are several types of melanomas including superficial spreading melanoma, nodular melanoma (black), lentigo maligna (flat, freckled like spots), acral lentiginous melanoma (dark patch) or amelanotic melanomas (pinkish).
You should check your body for tumors on a regular basis, making sure to look at areas that are less visible; use 1 or 2 mirrors to help you. The sooner a melanoma is detected, the higher chances of recovery.
A good way to distinguish between moles and melanomas is to use the ABCDE rule. This is a guide that should be used whenever you detect a growth on the surface of your skin.
A for asymmetry: If the tumor is asymmetrical, there are high chances that it is a melanoma. Moles usually have a regular shape
B for border: Melanomas may have irregular borders, while moles have rounded and regular edges
C for color: Melanomas have uneven coloration and may change their color. Moles are typically pink or brown and evenly colored and will not change their coloration
D for diameter: Melanomas are typically larger than 6 millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser) and may expand. Moles are smaller in size and will not grow
E for evolution: Melanomas evolve in a short period of time (within weeks). Moles remain constant for years and rarely if ever grow.
The ABCDE guide is a good starting point. There may be some deviations so dermatologist is the person to guide you.
Posted on 8 June '10 by admin, under Beauty, Skin. No Comments.
Liver spots are flat, pigmented areas on the skin. They are usually benign and not considered a medical problem, but they may cause social awkwardness.
Causes of Liver Spots
Liver spots have nothing to do with the liver. It was earlier believed that liver spots were a result of liver problems. Liver spots may also be called age spots because they are usually found more often as people age.
Actually, they are caused by exposure to the sun rays. Older individuals who have experienced greater sun exposure may be at a greater risk of liver spots than younger individuals and older individuals who took precaution against sun damage throughout their life.
The ultraviolet rays from the sun stimulate the production of melanin (pigment that gives skin its color), which may lead to clumps of melanin that appear as liver spots.
Appearance of Liver Spots
The flat, pigmented blemishes on the skin may be black, brown or grey. Liver spots are not a sign of skin cancer, although individuals who have liver spots may be at a greater risk of skin cancer due to greater exposure to sunlight.
Managing Liver Spots
Most treatments for liver spots are aimed at fading the blemishes. OTC Medications may be purchased over-the-counter, while some may require a prescription. Bleaching creams may be effective in fading liver spots so they are less noticeable.
Cosmetic treatments such as laser resurfacing, chemical peels and de-emabrasion may also be effective in fading or removing liver spots. Laser resurfacing destroys the melanocytes responsible for the extra pigment in the skin. Chemical peels and de-emabrasion produce a controlled damage to the top layer of skin so that new skin grows in its place.
Wearing sunscreen with good SPF and avoiding excessive sun exposure may help to prevent liver spots. Fair skinned individuals and those who work outdoors have greater tendency to liver spots and hence should avoid sun exposure, as they may be at greater risk of liver spots and other symptoms of sun damage.
Posted on 18 May '10 by admin, under Beauty. 17 Comments.
When it comes to skin, our greatest enemies are aging and environment. To face these arch enemies, we need to do more than just akin lotions and creams to our faces. No matter how advanced and latest anti aging creams are, they only improve the appearance of the dead layers of skin on the surface. To reach deep living cells and prevent damage in the first place we need to nourish skin from within.
Juices are a great way to get vital antioxidants, phytonutrients, and vitamins. For example, pomegranate juice has been found to prevent the thickening of the arteries if drunk daily, as well as slow down the oxidation of cholesterol. Such foods can be a very effective means in improving the way our skin looks and feels.
Antioxidants are an excellent way to slow down the aging process of our skin. There are a variety of antioxidants found in fruit and vegetables. These include polyphenols, flavanoids, and proanthocyanadins. Proanthacyanadins help capillary walls stay strong, which is important in making sure all the right nutrients and oxygen get to our cells. If our cells are hungry because of nutrient transportation troubles, they are not going to be healthy, or look good. Blueberries and blackberries are rich sources of proanthocyanadins, so that’s a great reason to make these delicious fruits part of a regular diet.
The skin is considered an organ of elimination as it excretes about one quarter of the body’s wastes through perspiration. The other organs of elimination are the kidneys, the lungs, the liver and the bowels. The rationale behind considering the excretory organs as a whole when addressing skin health is that if one of the organs is overloaded, or not doing its job properly, it throws the whole system of excretion out of balance, placing greater stress on the other eliminatory channels. So juices, food and supplements that sustain these other channels of elimination should also lead to a corresponding improvement in the skin.
Herbs that support the eliminatory channels, and thus indirectly the skin, include burdock, cleavers, nettles, goldenseal, yellow dock, and milk thistle, or St. Mary’s thistle.
Posted on 10 May '10 by admin, under Beauty. No Comments.
