Table. Benign clinical symptoms of chronic light damage (modified from Yaar 2007 [e9]—a selection).
Benign clinical symptoms | Changes in the epidermis and dermis, especially in areas of maximum exposure* |
Dry skin | Thickening of the skin barrier and changes in the epidermal proliferation rate |
Pigmentary changes:
|
Both increase and decrease in epidermal melanocytes, increase in dermal melanophages |
Changes in the connective tissue – wrinkles and elastosis | Changes in the connective tissue, especially collagen and elastic fibers |
Telangiectases Purpura (easy bruising) | Proliferation of small vessels often with atrophic walls, extravasation of erythrocytes and perivascular inflammation |
Comedones (Favre-Racouchot disease) and sebaceous gland hyperplasia | Dilation and cornification of the superficial component of the sebaceous follicle, proliferation of sebaceous glands |
*Areas of maximum exposure: head and scalp (including helices, lower lip), décolleté, shoulders, backs of hands, forearms