ERCM – Podcast: How much change can a face take?

People who feel fit and healthy want to see that reflected in the mirror. When a face looks older than the person feels, a question naturally arises: how much should be changed? Prof. Dr. Steinkraus was a guest on the ERCM Medizin Podcast. In conversation with neurosurgeon Prof. Dr. Alexander Muacevic, he discusses beauty, skin health and the expectations placed on medicine, which is increasingly asked to make people look younger. He understands why someone might want to have a troublesome frown line treated or drooping upper eyelids corrected. At the same time, he questions the expectation that every face should be free of wrinkles. What matters to him are the individual circumstances, careful consultation and an outcome in which the person still recognises themselves. The conversation also explores the limits of cosmetic promises and a straightforward approach to skincare: gentle cleansing and a suitable moisturiser as the essentials, with targeted active ingredients as optional extras. For long-term skin health, Prof. Dr. Steinkraus identifies three priorities: skincare suited to the skin type, sun protection appropriate to the circumstances and a daily routine that includes regular exercise and good sleep. A case from his practice illustrates how far a dermatologist’s view extends beyond appearance. A young man’s skin had developed a yellowish-brown tinge, and his energy had dropped markedly. Working with an endocrinologist, Prof. Dr. Steinkraus was able to establish the cause: Addison’s disease, in which the outer layer of the adrenal glands is underactive. The skin had signalled an illness within the body.
Listen to or watch the episode here (in German).

Prof. Dr. Alexander Muacevic is a neurosurgeon, radiosurgeon and director of the European Radiosurgery Center Munich. On the ERCM Medizin Podcast, he speaks with experts about medical research, treatment options and prevention.