The editor of my high school newsletter posed the question “At what age did you notice that you were old”? Most of us will deny that we are old, right up to the end, but the question is thought provoking. On the inside you still feel like you are 26, but on the outside “not so much.” Your skin isn’t quite so forgiving.
You’ve dealt with muscle aches and joint pains for years; you hardly notice when they become a permanent fixture. It is harder to ignore “saggy baggy” skin.
Aging skin is dry, thin, fragile, wrinkly, and has brown spots. Aging skin tears when Fido jumps up to say hello; bruises appear in places that you can’t remember bumping, and bug bites itch for longer than they used to. Wrinkle prevention becomes secondary to all the other issues associated with harsh winters and hot summers.
The fundamentals of keeping aging skin clean and healthy is the same as it has always been, but decreased oil production makes skin more susceptible to over-drying and other irritants.
• Think gentle. Gone are the days of hot hot showers, luffa scrubs, and many exfoliation products. Use mild non-perfumed creams, lotions, and soaps. The same idea applies to shampoo and shaving products.
• A dry climate makes it doubly tough. Lotions and creams are more important for moisturizing and for relieving dry itching skin. Avoid products that are alcohol based; look at products in the baby care aisle. Apply oils after bathing and while the skin is still moist.
• Summer skin care includes sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and cover ups. Keep hydrated and keep cool. Watch for evidence of heat rash, which can show up anywhere skin rubs together (armpits, groin and under breasts).
• Winter skin care isnt much different. In the summer you get prickly heat, in the winter you are prone to chapping, cracking and irritation.
Winter or summer it is important to protect your skin from head to toe. Seniors, especially those with chronic conditions, are particularly vulnerable to temperature variations. See your dermatologist if your skin irritations do not respond to conservative treatments.
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