Skin Health Information for Teens

Preface About This Book The skin is the body’s biggest and most visible organ. It serves as a firstline of defense against microorganisms, and it provides a sensory interface between the body and the environment. Teens often turn it into a canvas for self-expression, modifying its appearance with cosmetics, tanning, piercing, and tattooing. Because it is so exposed and manipulated, however, the skin is also susceptible to a host of injuries, infections, irritations, and even lifethreatening cancers. In addition, because it is so visible, problems that affect the skin’s appearance can lead to embarrassment and emotional turmoil. Skin Health Information for Teens, Second Edition provides updated information about the skin, hair, and nails. It explains how the skin and its related structures grow and how to keep them healthy. Common ailments, including acne, eczema, impetigo, psoriasis, vitiligo, and warts are explained, and a section on skin cancer provides information about cancer risks, prevention strategies, warning signs, and treatments. The care of skin injuries, including cuts, scrapes, burns, bites, and stings, is also discussed, and the book concludes with suggestions for further reading and a directory of additional resources. How To Use This Book This book is divided into parts and chapters. Parts focus on broad areas of interest; chapters are devoted to single topics within a part. Part One: Skin Basics provides information about skin anatomy and the ways hereditary and hormonal factors can affect the skin’s appearance. It explainsx why some people’s skin develops brown spots, freckles, or birthmarks, and it discusses other concerns related to how the skin looks, including stretch marks and scars. Part Two: Caring For Skin, Hair, And Nails describes hygiene and lifestyle choices that affect the skin and its ability to function properly. It discusses the use of skin care products and cosmetic procedures, and it offers safety guidelines for teens who are considering piercings or tattoos. Chapters that talk about hair and nail concerns are also included. Part Three: Acne looks at the biological processes that lead to the development of acne and account for its widespread occurrence during the teen years. It describes over-the-counter and prescription medications and discusses options for treating acne scars, including dermabrasion and chemical peels. Part Four: Understanding And Preventing Skin Cancer explains the development, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments for the most common types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. Although skin cancer often does not appear during the teen years, it is estimated that between 50% and 80% of the damage that leads to such cancers occurs during childhood and adolescence as a result of intermittent, unprotected sun exposure. This part includes chapters that explain how to protect the skin for lifelong well being. Part Five: Other Diseases And Conditions That Affect The Skin And Scalp describes common viral, bacterial, fungal, allergic, and inherited diseases and conditions that may affect the skin. These include cellulitis, eczema, fever blisters and cold sores, psoriasis, rosacea, scabies, scleroderma, swimmer’s itch, athlete’s foot, jock itch, vitiligo, warts, head lice, and others. Part Six: Caring For Injuries To The Skin discusses prevention, first aid, and treatment for cuts, scrapes, bruises, corns, calluses, burns, stings, and bites. Special concerns related to diseases that can be transmitted through bites from ticks and mosquitoes are also addressed. Part Seven: If You Need More Information includes suggestions for further reading about skin-related topics and a directory of additional resources.Bibliographic Note xi