Skin Care Hub

We all have heard age spots. Age spots are sometimes called “liver spots”. However, they have nothing to do with the liver. Do you know that these flat, brown spots are actually caused by years in the sun. They are bigger than freckles, and flat. They can appear on all areas such as the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. Even though age spots are harmless, talk to a dermatologist about removing them if they start to bother you. Always wear a sunscreen or sunblock to prevent more sun damage.

Unlike age spots, skin tags are small, usually flesh-colored growths of skin that have a raised surface. They are associated with aging, especially for women. You can find them on the eyelids, neck, and body folds such as the arm pit, chest, and groin. Skin tags are harmless, however, a doctor can easily remove them if they bother you.

Source: National Institutes of Health

As we age, our skin changes. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. We normally notice the sign of wrinkles and fine lines between the age 30 to 35.

Even though over the counter wrinkle creams all claim to reverse wrinkles, they don’t really deliver the result. However, they can moisturize and nourish your skin. Limiting your exposure to the environment is probably the most helpful thing to do to avoid premature skin aging. Limiting Sun exposure is the single most important factor in skin protection.

Considering the questionable safety status, FDA and dermatologists advise consumers who use AHA products to follow these precautions:

• Always protect your skin before going out during the day. Use a sunscreen product with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Wear a hat with a brim of at least 4 inches (about 10 centimeters). Cover up with lightweight, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Buy products with adequate label information: for example, a list of ingredients to see which AHA or other chemical acids are in the product; the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor, which can serve as the contact if a problem or question arises; and a statement about the product’s AHA concentration and pH level. The first two pieces of information are mandatory; the third is optional. Consumers can call or write the manufacturer, however, to get information about a product’s AHA concentration and pH level.
• Buy only products that comply with the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel’s 1997 recommendations–that is, products with an AHA concentration of 10 percent or less and a pH of 3.5 or greater.
• Do a skin-sensitivity test on a patch of skin if you are a first-time user of any AHA product or are using a different brand or a product with a different concentration or pH than you are used to.
• Stop using the product immediately if you experience adverse reactions. Signs of adverse reactions include stinging, redness, itching, burning, pain, and bleeding or change in sun sensitivity. Even mild irritation is a sign that the product is causing damage, FDA’s Bailey says, despite what the manufacturer may indicate on the product label. “Cosmetics shouldn’t sting or cause irritation,” he says.

If you have an adverse reaction, see a dermatologist. A dermatologist can tell you whether an adverse reaction is from the product or is an indication of an underlying disease, such as skin cancer. Dermatologists also can recommend appropriate skin-care products, and they will report your case, keeping your name confidential, to FDA’s adverse reaction monitoring program.

Source: FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors

An additional concern arose as FDA prepared its 1996 report on AHA safety: Some people who had reported adverse reactions cited increased sun sensitivity. In addition, one industry-sponsored study found that participants whose skin was exposed to 4 percent glycolic acid twice daily for 12 weeks developed minimal skin redness with 13 percent less ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure than normal. Three participants developed minimal redness with 50 percent less UV exposure than normal.

Another study that looked at the effects of glycolic acid on production of sunburn cells (markers for UV-induced skin damage) found that people who received the AHA product in the presence of UV radiation experienced twice the cell damage in areas where the AHA had been applied than those who were treated with the non-AHA product.

FDA’s concern is that people who are sensitive to sunlight may be particularly susceptible to UV rays, which can damage the skin and, over a long period, can cause skin cancer.

In 1997, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel–the cosmetic industry’s self-regulatory body for reviewing and addressing safety of cosmetic ingredients–concluded that the AHA’s glycolic acid and lactic acid and their related chemical compounds are safe for use in products intended for consumer use when:

• the AHA concentration is 10 percent or less
• the final product has a pH of 3.5 or greater (lower numbers indicate greater acidity)
• the final product is formulated in such a way that it protects the skin from increased sun sensitivity or its package directions tell consumers to use sunscreen products.

For AHA products used by trained cosmetologists, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel concluded that formulations of glycolic acid and lactic acid at concentrations of 30 percent or less and a pH of 3.0 or greater intended for only “brief” use at one time followed by thorough rinsing and daily use of sun protection are safe.

The panel’s conclusions actually serve as guidelines for cosmetic manufacturers, Bailey says. “This means that each manufacturer of an AHA product should conduct appropriate testing on their products to measure whether or not the product increases the sensitivity of the user to UV radiation and, if so, should add sun protection to their product and warn consumers to take extra steps to protect themselves at all times.”

Meanwhile, FDA continues to study AHA safety. Later this year, scientists with the National Toxicology Program and FDA will use hairless mice to study the effect of AHAs on the risk of cancer associated with sunlight and UV radiation. The study will run for about three years.

Depending on the outcome of FDA’s investigation, Bailey says, the agency may or may not take action against AHA products. “The absence of action by FDA to date doesn’t mean that there won’t be any in the future.”

Source: U. S. Food and Drug Administration

Some in the cosmetic industry have suggested that AHA products are more than simple cosmetics, coining the term “cosmeceutical” to describe them instead.

Under the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, cosmetics are defined as “articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance.” Drugs are defined as products intended for treating or preventing disease and affecting the structure or any function of the body. They are subject to premarket review and approval; cosmetics are not.

“The term ‘cosmeceutical’ is not recognized by law,” Bailey says. “These products, depending on their intended use, would be regulated either as cosmetics, drugs, or both as cosmetics and drugs.”

FDA has a particular concern about AHAs because, unlike traditional cosmetics, AHAs seem capable of penetrating the skin barrier. In reviewing the limited data on AHAs, FDA concluded in a 1996 report that certain formulations of AHA products can affect the skin in a manner similar to that of chemical peels–that is, increasing cell turnover rate and decreasing the thickness of the outer skin. The effect depends on the product’s pH level (a measure of its acidity), the AHA concentration, and the AHA vehicle cream, as well as how the product is used (for example, frequency of use and where on the skin it is applied).

Source: U. S. Food and Drug Administration

Baby boomers and others who once sought the sun’s rays with little thought of skin damage are now paying the price–billions of dollars annually for cosmetics containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Derived from fruit and milk sugars and served up in creams and lotions, AHAs attract customers with their supposed ability to reduce wrinkles, spots, and other signs of aging, sun-damaged skin. Some scientific evidence suggests they may work.

But are these products safe? Since 1989, the Food and Drug Administration has received more than 100 reports of adverse reactions in people using AHA products. Their complaints included severe redness, swelling (especially in the area of the eyes), burning, blistering, bleeding, rash, itching, and skin discoloration.

FDA believes reactions from AHAs are probably even more widespread. Past experience suggests that for every adverse reaction report the agency receives, the manufacturer receives 50 to 100. “This would translate into approximately 10,000 adverse reactions being received for AHA-containing products,” says John Bailey, Ph.D., acting director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors.

Also, their relative newness (they’ve been widely available only since about 1992) means that their long-term effects are unknown. An industry-sponsored study found that people who use AHA products have greater sensitivity to sun, raising the specter of greater risk of photoaging and skin cancer.

“There are many unanswered questions in front of us,” Bailey says. “AHAs are unlike anything else ever introduced onto the cosmetic market on such a wide scale. They are not your traditional cosmetics.”

In spring 1997, the National Toxicology Program of the National Institute of Environmental Science accepted FDA’s proposal to study AHA safety. While FDA awaits the results, expected by the year 2000, the agency is cautioning consumers to take extra care with AHA products: for example, avoiding the sun when possible, otherwise using adequate sun protection, and reporting adverse reactions immediately to doctors or FDA directly.

“These are very, very popular products,” Bailey says. “Very little about the process restricts their sale. And it’s a somewhat alarming idea to put acids on the skin. It raises obvious safety questions.”

The best way to keep your skin healthy is to be careful in the sun.

Limit time in the sun. Try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the sun’s rays are strongest. Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies. The sun’s rays can pass through clouds. You can also get sunburned if you are in water, so be careful when you are in a pool, lake, or the ocean.

Use sunscreen. Look for a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) number of 15 or higher. It’s best to choose sunscreens with “broad spectrum” on the label. “Water resistant” sunscreen stays on your skin even if you get wet or sweat a lot, but it isn’t waterproof and needs to be put on about every 2 hours.

Wear protective clothing. A hat with a wide brim can shade your neck, ears, eyes, and head. Look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays. If you have to be in the sun, wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts.

Avoid tanning. Don’t use sunlamps or tanning beds. Tanning pills are not approved by the FDA and might not be safe.

Your skin may change with age. But remember, there are things you can do to help. Check your skin often. If you find any changes that worry you, see your doctor.

Age spots are sometimes called “liver spots,” but they have nothing to do with the liver. These flat, brown spots are often caused by years in the sun. They are bigger than freckles, flat, and many times show up on areas like the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. Age spots are harmless, but if they bother you, talk to a dermatologist about removing them. Also, a sunscreen or sunblock may prevent more sun damage.

Skin tags are small, usually flesh-colored growths of skin that have a raised surface. They are a common problem as people age, especially for women. They are most often found on the eyelids, neck, and body folds such as the arm pit, chest, and groin. Skin tags are harmless, but they can become irritated. A doctor can remove them if they bother you.