Dermatology

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Glossary of Skin Conditions Acne Irritation and inflammation of the oil glands, generally on the face and back. Cherry Angioma Common after age 40, these small (pinhead to 1/4") red bumps are painless and harmless. Freckles Flat, brown spots scattered over skin that is exposed to sun. Freckles are inherited, harmless and don't usually progress without sun exposure. Hyperpigmentation Blotchy brown spots on the skin. Keratoses, Actinic Actinic keratoses are crusty, scaly, pink patches that occur on areas of sun-damaged skin. While generally considered benign, they may be pre-cancerous and should be examined by a doctor. Keratoses, Sebhorreic Also called ‘marks of maturity,’ sebhorreic keratoses are yellow, brown or black waxy-looking growths. They tend to appear on fair-skinned people past the age of 40 and are generally painless and harmless. Lentigo (Liver Spots) Also called age spots, these are flat, brown-to-black spots on the face or back of the hands. Ranging from freckle size to a few inches across, liver spots are common past age 55 and generally harmless. Port wine stains Reddish, purplish birthmarks of any size generally found on the face, neck, arms or legs. These painless, generally harmless birthmarks never go away on their own. Rosacea The formation of small capillaries, generally around the nasal and cheek area, that develop in the late 20s, early 30s and beyond. While bothersome, rosacea is generally not harmful. Solar Elastosis Loose, sagging, tough skin caused by damage to the collagen and elastin fibers that support the skin, caused by excessive exposure to sunlight over many years. Vitiligo Patches of white-colored skin caused by a loss of pigmentation cells. Vitiligo is most common on exposed areas like the face, hands and neck and around body openings. The cause is unknown and there is no cure, but there are generally no serious effects.