Introduction

The inevitable process of aging begins at the time of birth.With maturity, the features of intrinsic or chronological aging become apparent. The cutaneous manifestations of chronological aging are manifold and include a smooth, pale appearance of the skin with fine wrinkling and loss of hydration [1]. The characteristics of intrinsic aging are often overshadowed by those of photoaging. Photoaging, aging of the skin induced by repeated exposures to ultraviolet (UV) light, leads to dramatic changes in the skin. These differences are highlighted by twin studies performed by New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Darrick E. Antell in which one twin with a significant sun exposure history displayed dramatic wrinkling compared with her sun-protected twin (Fig. 3.1a,b). Clinical characteristics of photoaging include fine and coarse wrinkling, roughness, dryness, telangiectasia, cancerous lesions, precancerous lesions, and pigmentary alterations. Pigmentary alterations are a major component of photoaged skin and may be observed all skin types [2]. Pigmentary alterations associated with photoaged skin are of several varieties, including hypermelanosis as well as hypomelanosis. Mottled hyperpigmentation, ephelides, lentigines, and pigmented seborrheic keratoses are the primary lesions of hypermelanosis. Guttate hypomelanosis,presenting as white spots, is the primary manifestation of hypomelanosis associated with aged skin.

Intrinsic aging occurs universally in individuals of all racial and ethnic groups and with all skin types. In contrast, there is variability in the severity and manifestations of photoaging in Asians,