About Caring for Aging Skin in Women
External aging, is partly due to the factors we can control. For instance childhood sunburns and exposure to the sun definitely ages your skin. This can have even more devastating consequences beyond wrinkles, age spots and a leathery look. Smoking, your diet and repetitive facial expressions also play a part. If you furrow your brow, you’ll probably get wrinkles on your forehead. As we age, we become increasingly aware of every little flaw that appears on the skin. These flaws signify to us, and the rest of the world, that our bodies are getting older, and it is natural to want to slow this process as much as possible.
Fortunately, there are ways to care for aging skin and keep it looking fresh, healthy, and young for many more years. This page provides general information about caring for aging skin. If you have concerns about skincare please arrange for a professional skin check, skincare assessment or treatment by a Dermatologist.
Lifestyle Changes
There are many day to day decisions you make that affect your overall health, as well as the health and appearance of your skin. A healthy diet will provide your skin with the nutrients and antioxidants necessary to protect against free radicals that damage the skin cells and cause signs of aging.
Caring for aging skin requires eating foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E are considered to be beneficial for skin health. You can also care for your aging skin by reducing the amount of sun exposure and drinking plenty of water throughout the day to help keep the body and skin hydrated.
Essential skin care products for aging skin include:
- A moisturizer
- A soap-free cleanser that will not remove significant amounts of your skin’s natural oils
- A sunscreen
Walking into a skin care isle can certainly be daunting; there are so many skin care products available today. You really do not need to purchase a large amount of products to properly help with caring for aging skin. Keep in mind that skincare isn’t just about facial skin. The skin on your body is different from the skin on your face. If you have oily facial skin but are prone to dry skin on your arms, a single soap isn’t going to work for both. Aging skin also tends to be thinner and more delicate on the face and hands. You may prefer to use a non-soap cleanser. Soaps may contain harsh detergents that strip away your skin’s natural oils, leaving it dry and tight.
If you have oily skin, look for a light, oil-free moisturiser lotion. People with dry skin need heavier creams. There are also heavy creams for areas of the body that are especially prone to dryness and flaking. These areas include the elbows, knees and heels. The skin is thicker in these places as it is exposed to a lot of stress.
Sunscreen should be worn daily. You probably know to apply it to your face, ears and neck, but you should also cover your arms and hands as they can suffer from sun exposure. The skin on the back of your hands often shows signs of aging faster than facial skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF sun protection factor of 30 or higher.
If you burn easily or you’re going to spend an extended amount of time in the sun, go with a higher number. A sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 which blocks 97% of the sun’s rays. Higher number SPFs block slightly more of the sun’s rays but no sunscreen can block 100% of the sun’s rays. High-number SPFs last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs and should be applied approximately every two hours when outdoors, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. You can also find moisturizers with added sunscreen.
A Skin Care Regiment for Aging Skin
These products should be used daily, regardless of what your plans are for the day. The best way to protect your skin, and reduce signs of aging, are to shield against sun damage, keep the skin clean, and provide the skin cells with plenty of hydration. By following these steps, you can provide your skin with all of the resources necessary to stay healthy.
If you have questions about taking care of aging skin contact your local doctor, who will arrange for you to see a dermatologist. We’ll provide you with a simple, efficient and very effective routine targeted to your concerns.
