Keratosis And Celebrities
So, you examine yourself in the mirror and you see these ugly lesions on your skin. You begin to worry and decide to go to the doctor who tells you that you seemed to have developed keratosis. Keratosis occurs when there is a build-up of keratin in the skin. Keratin is a key protein in the structural make-up of hair and nails. The doctor informs you that you have one of four different types of keratosis: seborrheic, actinic, hydrocarbon and pilaris.
Seborrheic keratosis produces ugly, wart like lesions which appear in a variety of colors, from light tan to black. They are mostly round in appearance. In fact in many cases they resemble melanoma skin cancers although they are in fact benign. Actinic keratosis is a condition which produces thick scaly, crusty patches of skin and is very common in fair-skinned people. Now, with this form of the disorder, you need to be very vigilant, it is considered pre-malignant which means that if it is left untreated, it could lead to cancer. Keratosis pilaris produces tiny bumps on the skin and is mostly found on the upper arms, thighs and cheeks. The bumps are rough to the touch, feel like sandpaper and appear flesh colored in some and look slightly red in others. It can be quite itchy. It is a follicular condition which occurs when the excess build-up of keratin on the skin entraps the hair follicles in the pores. Hydrocarbon only appears in persons who are exposed to ‘polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons’ – PAHs.
Feelings of depression are normal, keratosis is unpleasant to look at and often irritating. Would it make you feel better if you knew that you are not alone? Not only are us ‘mere’ mortals sufferers of this disease but many celebrities do as well. In fact, many of them suffer from the most common type of the condition, keratosis pilaris. But, I can hear you saying, they don’t show, where are those annoying little bumps, where are those warty looking lesions that sometime appear? The fact is, they use the resources they have at hand, including constant visits to the dermatologist, trying expensive and often experimental treatments such as the fluid secreted by land snails which purports to enhances the skin’s growth and is said to trigger the reproduction of brand new skin cells, a variety of medications, both prescribed and natural, laser therapy and simple hydrating of the skin (which means drinking the requisite amounts of water. Not juice, sodas or other sugary concoctions, water). Carefully, often expertly applied makeup often hides the worse of it when in the public eye.
Keratosis is treatable. Check with your doctor and follow a course of treatment that best suits you. So cheer up!
Recent Keratosis Articles:
All You Need To Know About Keratosis
Celebrity Treatments – Keratosis
