Skin and Hair Archive

Make the most of your skin barrier to ward off certain types of disease. Hint: It pays to moisturize.

Picture it: You're the body's military commander, and you're reviewing your protective forces. Immune system? Check. Stomach acid? Check. Beneficial gut bacteria? Check.

Don't forget to include your skin: it's one of the most important bastions in the fight against disease, keeping harmful organisms and substances from getting inside the body.

Tips to help you treat this common skin condition.

You thought you left acne behind you in your teen years, but here you are at midlife with a breakout. But it might not be what you think. Rosacea is often mistaken for acne, and the condition, which most often begins after age 30, sometimes flares at menopause, says Dr. Suzanne Olbricht, an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School.

A common skin condition affecting some 16 million Americans, rosacea most often develops in people with fair skin who blush easily. Rosacea is sometimes mistaken for sunburn, a naturally ruddy complexion, or even an allergic reaction. It produces a number of skin problems, including

Research we're watching

If you suffer from the common skin condition eczema, you may have a higher risk of breaking a bone compared with someone who doesn't have the condition, according to a study published in the February 2020 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study authors found that the 500,000 people in the study who had eczema, which causes itchy dry patches on the skin, were 7% to 18% more likely to break a bone in the wrist, hip, pelvis, or spine when compared with more than 2.5 million participants who didn't have the condition. Researchers said it's not clear if this elevated fracture risk was related to the eczema itself or whether other factors caused the association. For example, the increase in risk could have been related to medications people took to treat eczema. Even so, if you have eczema, the study authors say it may be worth asking your doctor whether you might be at increased risk for osteoporosis.

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Research we're watching

While more than three-quarters of Americans say that sun protection is important, less than half actually use it on a regular basis when they're heading outside, according to a survey by the American Academy of Dermatology. Some 28% of those polled said they rarely or never use sun protection, which includes using sunscreen, staying in the shade outside whenever possible, and wearing clothing such as hats or other items that can protect against the sun's rays. Sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancers, affecting one in every five Americans, so the AAD says it's important that people take steps to protect themselves. The AAD recommends that you

• wear sunscreen with 30 SPF or higher
• stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when its rays are the most intense
• use clothing to protect your skin, such as a hat and long-sleeved shirt.

Image: © Aleksej Sarifulin/Getty Images

What does that skin spot or growth mean, and when should you have it checked?

Even if you're diligent about sun protection (and you should be), you can still develop skin spots, growths, or other abnormalities.

But are they always cause for concern, or just a normal part of aging skin?

News briefs

Eczema is a common and chronic inflammatory condition that leaves skin dry and itchy. A large study published in the February 2020 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that people with eczema had an increased bone fracture risk, especially if the eczema was severe. Researchers compared 500,000 adults with eczema to more than 2.5 million people who didn't have eczema. Over a period of five years, people with eczema appeared to have slightly higher rates (7% to 18%) of wrist, hip, pelvis, and spine fractures, compared with people who didn't have eczema. People with severe eczema had much higher rates of hip fractures (50% higher), pelvis fractures (66% higher), and spine fractures (109% higher, or more than double the risk) than people without eczema. The study is observational and doesn't prove that eczema causes bone fractures; it could be that certain medications and lifestyle habits contributed to broken bones in the study. "But based on the findings, people with eczema should be aware their skin condition may increase the risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures, and should talk to their health care provider to decide if preventive measures and screening tests for osteoporosis are warranted. Healthy lifestyle choices, such as getting enough calcium and vitamin D and getting regular aerobic and weight-bearing exercise, are important for everyone and may be particularly important for people with eczema," says Dr. Robert Shmerling, a rheumatologist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

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Ask the doctors

Q. My skin has been breaking out since I entered menopause. Why is this happening, and what can I do about it?

A. Many women notice changes to their skin at menopause. For some women this means dryness, age spots, or a tendency toward bruising. For others, estrogen levels drop while male hormone levels, such as testosterone, remain the same, which can prompt acne breakouts.

Ask the doctors

Q. I have a lot of varicose veins. Do they present any sort of a health risk?

A. Varicose veins are typically viewed as a mild, non-life-threatening condition that is more of a cosmetic annoyance than a serious health problem. That said, varicose veins can be associated with some health-related issues, such as swelling in the legs, blood clots, or damage to the skin caused by pressure from the veins. They may also make you more prone to skin damage, infections, and ulcers.