“The key is to age honestly and gracefully, and make it look so good everyone looks forward to it.” This quote from actress Emma Thompson is a great motto for anyone learning about skin care for seniors. Take care of your skin, and you’ll look and feel good for years to come!
Skin Care for Seniors
Are you worried about how to take care of your skin in your golden years? It can be difficult to figure out, especially because we live in a society that isn’t always accepting of the ways our bodies change as we age. Maybe you’ve been tempted by a lotion or cream with a “miracle anti-aging ingredient.” While it’s nice to daydream about the fountain of youth, the fact is that most “anti-aging” chemicals and procedures just don’t work. If you’re disappointed by that, don’t panic! The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to love the skin you’re currently in, and they’ll make you look and feel better than any of those anti-aging products ever could. Just learn a little bit about skin care for seniors, and you’ll be as red-carpet ready as Emma Thompson in no time.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
One of the most difficult parts of caring for senior skin is keeping it moisturized. As people get older, their skin becomes drier for a variety of reasons. Sweat and oil glands don’t work as hard as they used to, and skin becomes more delicate, which means it retains less moisture. Keeping your skin moisturized is the key to keeping it looking and feeling its best, so consider adding these steps to your daily routine:
- Use a face and body moisturizer every day. Avoid moisturizers with scents, as they can irritate damaged skin. Find a moisturizer that is creamy and specifically formulated for dry skin.
- If your skin feels dry to the point of itchiness, don’t scratch! Instead, take a short warm bath with a moisturizing bath bar or cleanser. Skip the bath oils, as they can make dehydrated skin worse. Once you’re out, moisturize thoroughly. If there are spots that are especially itchy, treat them with a moisturizing ointment.
- If dry skin issues persist, consider using a humidifier to keep the air in your home from drying out your skin.
Be Sun Smart
No matter how old or young you are, you should take steps to protect your skin from the sun. Sun protection becomes especially important as you get older since your skin is more susceptible to sun damage. However, there’s also a lot of benefit to enjoying some sunshine in the great outdoors. Be smart about sun exposure so you can still get in on the fun:
- Try to avoid being outdoors between 10 am and 2 pm. These are the times when the sun’s rays are at their peak.
- Always wear plenty of sunscreen. It should have a sun protective factor (SPF) of 30 or above, and it should be applied to every surface of the skin that could potentially see the sun.
- Wear sun-protective clothing and accessories. Longer sleeves and a sun hat can protect your skin effectively. Look for sunglasses and accessories with an SPF rating on the label.
What Else Should I Know?
Once you have a good moisturizing routine and a plan for sun safety, you may be wondering what else you should be focused on. Review the following daily skincare tips from the experts:
- If you have dry and itchy skin that bathing and moisturizing can’t resolve, there may be an underlying medical issue. Talk to your doctor, especially if any medications you’re on have skin-related side effects.
- Protecting your hands is especially important as you get older. Consider wearing protective gloves when doing indoor and outdoor chores.
- Loving the skin you’re in can be helped greatly by a positive mindset. Take time every day to find things to love about your skin, and take good care of it, because you deserve it! Aging can be beautiful if you learn to embrace it.
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Skin care for seniors involves keeping moisturized and being smart about sun exposure, but don’t forget the importance of loving your skin too. Like Emma Thompson said, if you age honestly and gracefully, you’ll look and feel great at any age.
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