Actinic keratoses — thick, warty, rough, reddish growths on sun-exposed areas of the skin. They may be a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma.

Seborrheic keratoses — brown or black raised spots, or wart-like growths, that appear to be stuck to the skin’s surface. They are not cancerous or precancerous, and are easily removed.

Cherry angiomas — harmless, small, bright red domes created by dilated blood vessels. They occur in more than 85 percent of middle-aged to elderly people, usually on the body. A dermatologist can remove them.

Telangiectasias ("broken capillaries") — dilated facial blood vessels, usually related to sun damage. A dermatologist can treat them.

Bruising — often a result of skin having lost its fat padding and becoming more susceptible to injury. Some drugs may cause bleeding under the skin. Bruises that persist should be examined by a dermatologist.

Wrinkles — changes in the elastic tissue from exposure to sunlight, effects of gravity, or motion factors in the skin. A dermatologist can treat wrinkles with dermatologic surgery.

Skin diseases more common in older people include shingles, leg ulcers and seborrheic dermatitis.

Prevention of Photoaging

While you can't slow down or stop the effects of chronologic aging, you can do something to inhibit the skin damage caused by excessive and chronic sun exposure. To avoid skin damage from sun exposure, always use a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher, a hat with a brim, and protective covering of arms and legs. Don't deliberately sunbathe, and limit sun exposure during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest. Avoid deliberate tanning in tanning salons or under sunlamps. If your skin is already sun damaged, you can still benefit from these measures.

Your best bet for avoiding the skin damage caused by long-term cigarette smoking is to quit.

Source: American Academy of Dermatology