I don't know about you, but I'm kind of a hypochondriac when it comes to my skin. I've known too many people who've had melanoma or some sort of skin cancer, developed Lupus or some other skin ailment that reveals itself slowly but surely as small brown spots or flesh colored bumps. I've found myself looking in the mirror asking myself, what are these bumps on my skin?! Once I realize that it is nothing life threatening, that's when I go crazy with the skin care products trying to remedy the problem. Vitamin C to fade the brown spots, Glycolic Acid to shed the dry skin, acne products, aloe...you name it and I will do what it takes to make the visible signs of aging go away--FAST. But what ends up happening? A skin freak out. Why? Because, thanks to Renee Rouleau, I found out that these bumps and brown spots are normal for my age. So going into product overdrive only made my skin situation worse and then I start looking for products to counteract those issues as well. It is a vicious circle my friends. Vicious. Thankfully, Renee gave me permission to re-post an article she wrote regarding these bumps we all begin to see as we age in the hopes that you won't mess up your skin the way I did simply because I didn't understand what was happening to my skin. Especially for those over 40, little bumps can start to appear on the skin, leaving people wondering what they are. People think they are developing clogged pores and so they attempt to extract them with no luck. Then they start treating their skin with harsh products thinking that it's a form of acne and they are left with dry, irritated skin with the bumps still present. So what are these bumps? One of the pleasures (sarcasm) of aging is that benign (non-cancerous) growths occur on the face, neck and body. They begin as small, rough bumps and over time, they thicken and get larger. There are many names for these; seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses, skin tags, sebaceous hyperplasia, and they all can appear a bit different (some brown, some flesh color) but generally speaking, they are bumps, excess skin, enlarged oil glands and growths that protrude from the skin and become impossible to hide with makeup. If the bumps are red and painful, then it's probably cystic acne. Read: Tips for Treating Cystic Acne There is no cream or ointment that will make these go away. Treatment options include cryosurgery (a freezing technique using liquid nitrogen) electrosurgery (burning off with an electric current) and curretage (a scraping technique). All of of these procedures are offered at a dermatologist's office and electrosurgery is offered at Renee Rouleau Skin Care Spa! As part of keeping the skin smooth as you age, it's important that you get a head start and stay on top of these by getting them removed. They only grow bigger and eventually can be unmanageable. So nip it in the bud now!  As I write this blog post, I have a few scabs on my forehead from a few growths that I just had removed. In about a week, the scabs will fall off, I'll have a few pink marks that I will treat with my Glycolic Serum 10%, but my skin should be back to a smooth, non-bumpy surface in no time! (Until new ones come in. Ugh.) Note: Some dermatologists may resist removing them for you since they are benign and not dangerous to your health so you may have to insist to have them removed. Also, you may want to have them remove just one to see how your skin will heal before having many removed. How can you prevent these? Since many of these growths are caused by a thickening of the skin, both acids and retinols may help since they can thin out the skin. See our collection of Glycolic Acid serums and exfoliants. Note: Skin cancer (melanoma) can start as little growths as well so it's always important to get your skin checked over once a year. Read: Skin Cancer Information You Need to Know Read: Skin Tips for Those Using Retinol Products Get products recommended for your skin type by choosing one of our nine skin types. Questions about your skin? Be sure to email us. We're here to assist! Information courtesy of www.ReneeRouleau.com, a website with skin care tips, products based on nine skin types and advice from skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, Renee Rouleau. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!