THE CLINICAL SPECTRUM OF ACTINIC ELASTOSIS

A plethora of literature promoting our understanding of the difference s between intrinsic (chronologic) aging versus extrinsic aging of the skin has been published during the last two decades. The predominant e xtrinsic factor is UV radiation; the functional, histologic, and clini cal consequences are referred to as photoaging, or dermatoheliosis. Ac tinic elastosis re fers specifically to the degenerative histologic al terations seen by light microscopy in sun-damaged skin. Multiple facto rs, including anatomic site, extent of sun exposure, and other physica l or environmental factors affect the clinical appearance of these cha nges. We review the clinical spectrum of the actinic elastotic variant s.