Latest news with #Kazlouskaya
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How Your Skin Changes as You Age—In Your 40s, 50s, 60s and Beyond
It's no secret that our skin changes as we age. It starts out especially sensitive when we're babies, breaks out during puberty and (sometimes) clears up in our 20s and 30s. According to Dr. Roseanne Paul, a dermatologist at University Hospitals and assistant professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University, there are a variety of influencing factors that may result in skin changes as we age, often categorized into intrinsic or extrinsic factors. 'Intrinsic [factors are] part of your genetic predisposition, as well as hormonal changes experienced as we age,' she explains. 'Extrinsic or environmental factors—UV radiation being the most likely and most common—also includes smoking, air pollution, and even [poor] nutrition. More exposure to each of these may result in earlier or more prevalent signs of aging.' More from Flow Space The Internet Claims NAD+ Is the Next Big Thing in Longevity. But What Does It Actually Do? Paul notes that women won't all see the same signs of skin aging in a particular decade of their lives. But here's a general overview of the kinds of changes that tend to occur in our 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. By the time you're in your 40s, your skin has likely started to undergo some changes. 'In their 30s to 40s, women often begin to notice early signs of collagen loss, dullness and uneven tone due to a reduction in estrogen and sun exposure,' says Dr. Shamsa Kanwal, a consultant dermatologist. Exposure to sunlight—or tanning bed usage—will prematurely age the skin, making fine lines and wrinkles, brown spots, and broken blood vessels called telangiectasias appear at a younger age, Paul explains. 'In addition to natural aging and sun damage, this is also when signs of perimenopause and declining estrogen levels appear, which can make the skin dull, dry and prone to faster aging,' Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, a board-certified dermatologist and hair loss expert, says. In your 40s, hormonal shifts accelerate collagen breakdown and reduce skin elasticity, resulting in fine lines, dryness and more noticeable pigmentation, Kanwal explains. 'Many consider hormone replacement treatment (HRT),' Kazlouskaya says. As far as skin care, 'this is the time to focus on hydration, peptides and sun protection,' Kanwal says. Additionally, Kazlouskaya says that women should pay closer attention to their overall health. 'One of the most important steps in preventing premature aging is daily sun protection,' Kazlouskaya says. 'Maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes especially important after 30, when the body starts needing more support. A diet rich in healthy proteins, good sleep and stress management can all have a noticeable impact—not just on how you feel, but even on how you look.' This is a period when most women experience menopause with lower estrogen levels—meaning drier and duller skin, as well as more noticeable wrinkles and sagging, Kazlouskaya says. Skin also loses collagen quickly during menopause. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), women's skin loses about 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause, then 2% every year for the next 20 years. Decreased levels of estrogen during menopause can also change your skin by impairing your skin's barrier function, reducing sebum production and slowing wound healing, according to Northwestern Medicine. This can also affect the skin on your scalp, which may become drier and thinner, contributing to hair loss. Along the same lines, postmenopausal skin can become thinner, drier and more prone to bruising or sensitivity, Kanwal says. But there are ways to take care of your skin. 'Gentle but active skin care like ceramides, hyaluronic acid and low-concentration retinoids helps rebuild the barrier,' Kanwal explains. 'Sun protection is essential.' From your 60s onward, slower cell turnover and fat loss under the skin can lead to sagging and deep wrinkling, Kanwal says. 'In addition to sagging, volume loss and wrinkles, pigmentation issues and dryness also become more prominent,' Kazlouskaya says. Skin can also become thinner and more prone to irritation and itchiness—sometimes as the result of medications, according to the AADA. Fortunately, there are ways to manage the dryness and irritation, including taking warm (not hot) baths, using a humidifier and applying a creamy, fragrance-free moisturizer within three minutes of bathing and throughout the day, the AADA notes. And don't give up on your skin care routine. 'Skin care should, of course, be continued with sun protection and hydration,' Kazlouskaya says.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rash or Red Flag? 5 Skin Conditions That May Point to Diabetes
When you think of the early warning signs of diabetes, skin problems likely aren't the first thing to come to mind. But our body's largest organ, our skin, can actually be a very telling asset. We spoke to experts to understand the top five skin symptoms that signal elevated blood sugar, prediabetes and undiagnosed or unmanaged diabetes. For some people, a skin rash could be the first early sign of high blood glucose levels or diabetes. It looks different on different people, and can manifest as everything from light brown scaly patches to painless blisters to raised red patches of skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Aside from a rash, these are the other ways diabetes can affect your skin: One of the most common symptoms of elevated blood sugar is darkening of the skin on the back of the neck or within folds of the body, explains Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, PhD, Dermatologist and owner of Dermatology Circle PLLC clinic. 'It often looks like 'dirty' skin patches and is a sign of insulin resistance, which can precede diabetes.' says Dr. Kazlouskaya. These darkened skin patches will have a thickened appearance, adds Maral Kibarian Skelsey, MD, FAAD, FACMS. They're related to our body's insulin response. 'When someone is insulin resistant, the excess insulin can lead to increased formation of pigment called melanin,' explains Dr. skelsey. 'Women with acanthosis nigricans have an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes. It can also be associated with malignancies and hormonal conditions.' Dr. Skelsey notes there's also a genetic factor in a person's likelihood of developing acanthosis nigricans. The condition is 'more common in individuals above their ideal body weight and in those with darker skin, including Native Americans, Africans and those of Hispanic descent.' 'Shin spots, or diabetic dermopathy, manifests as small red to brown papules on the shin and can be half a centimeter to one centimeter big,' explains Dr. Skelsey. 'They can also become scarred and depressed, and four or more lesions suggests diabetes.' 'They may heal with some pigmentation and are often a sign of changes in small blood vessels related to diabetes,' adds Dr. Kazlouskaya. These types of diabetic skin lesions are typically painless, more common in men and associated with an increased risk of eye and kidney disease. Dr. Skelsey says necrobiosis lipoidica refers to firm, yellow-brown plaques with a sunken in or depressed center typically found on the shin. She explains women are affected three times more than men, and it typically affects those between the ages of 20 and 40. The skin condition is more common in diabetics who are dependent on insulin. 'Fifteen percent of lesions may precede onset of diabetes by an average of two years,' Dr. Skelsey adds. While getting a cut or scrape here and there isn't a direct early warning sign of diabetes, discovering that your wounds are healing particularly slowly is. 'Delayed healing is often due to a combination of nerve damage, poor circulation and a weakened immune response—all of which are common in uncontrolled diabetes. Identifying this early allows for better management and helps avoid [skin] infections and complications,' explains Dr. Kazlouskaya. 'Candida or yeast infections can occur in the mouth and vagina and in skin folds (where moisture is high) and around the nail,' explains Dr. Skelsey. While someone could develop a yeast or fungal infection without elevated blood sugar levels, Dr. Skelsey says 'candida thrives in environments where the blood sugar is high. In addition, diabetes affects the immune system and inhibits the body's ability to fight infection.' While there are several major skin signs of elevated blood sugar or increased diabetes risk, there are also other warning signs you may not realize are connected to blood sugar health. 'For example, bumps on the eyelids called xanthelasmas are cholesterol-rich deposits and can be seen in people with diabetes or abnormal lipid levels,' explains Dr. Kazlouskaya. 'Thickened skin on the hands or back may also be a subtle sign of long-standing high blood sugar.' If you're particularly experiencing 'tight, thick waxy skin on the fingers causing the fingers to be stiff,' that can also be occurring due to diabetes, adds Dr. Skelsey. It's not always easy to tell whether something on your skin is harmless or a sign of a more serious health issue. When in doubt, it's always smart to check with your doctor. 'If something seems unusual or doesn't go away, the best first step is to schedule a visit with a board-certified dermatologist,' adds Dr. Kazlouskaya. 'We're trained to diagnose and manage over 3,000 skin conditions, and we often catch early signs of systemic issues like diabetes before they progress.' Keep scrolling for more diabetes health stories! What Causes Type 2 Diabetes? 5 Doctor-Backed Risk Factors + Easy Tips to Reverse Your Odds What To Drink To Lower Blood Sugar Immediately: 5 Tasty Sips That Work Fast What to Eat on a Diabetes Diet and Simple Tips for Dining Out Without Spiking Your Glucose This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
