While aging is an inevitable part of life, if we take care of our skin properly, we can stall the onslaught of wrinkles and other signs of aging. In fact, by regularly practicing an appropriate skin care routine, you can ensure that your skin will maintain a healthy, youthful glow.

Skin Care Tips for Seniors

As we age, the skin loses its ability to produce and maintain collagen, causing it to become less elastic and, therefore, wrinkle. One of the main reasons for this is the fact skin cells aren't able to reproduce as quickly as they did in younger years, which leads to a buildup of ineffective skin cells on the skin's surface.

In addition, age also causes the skin to become thinner and drier, compromising its ability to protect us from potentially harmful external elements, such as bacteria and viruses.

As a result, seniors need to take different, specialized measures when caring for their skin. Here are some tips for caring for aged, elderly skin:

• Avoid scratching your skin. Because senior's skin is thinner and far more delicate than younger people's skin, scratching it can cause it to tear and bleed. Consequently, avoid scratching bumpy or itchy skin.
• Clean yourself regularly. While this tip does refer to bathing and showering, it also calls for immediate cleaning of soiled adult diapers for those who wear them. This will prevent seniors from developing potentially harmful bacterial skin infections.
• Moisturize daily, especially after showering or washing any part of the body. Dry skin is one of the main skin problems from which seniors suffer.
• Protect yourself from the sun. This is a skin care tip that is essentially for everyone, regardless of age. Because the sun can easily damage aged skin, wear sunscreen and limit your time in the sun to prevent sun damage.
• Use gentle soaps and detergents. Harsh cleansers will dry out and irritate the skin. Stick to soaps and detergents that are alcohol-free and perfume-free.

Anti-Aging Tips for the Skin

While we will all eventually have to learn how to care for our aged skin, preventing the signs of aging is, perhaps, one of the best skin care treatments you can start now. Along with using quality products that are right for your skin type, protecting yourself from the sun and practicing healthy lifestyle habits are essential to keeping your skin as healthy as possible. Here are some tips for getting and maintaining young looking skin:

• Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated will prevent your skin from drying out. Over time, dehydration and dry skin can lead to premature wrinkles, along with other, more severe health problems.
• Eat healthy: Eating the FDA recommended amount of fresh fruits and vegetables (three to five servings per day) and limiting your intake of sugary, fatty foods is part of maintaining a healthy diet. By taking in essential nutrients, you can adequately replenish your skin with the nutrients it needs to repair itself and stay healthy. If you don't think that your diet is providing you with enough of the necessary vitamins and minerals, consider starting a daily multivitamin regimen.
• Exercise regularly: Getting at least 30 minutes of cardio exercise every other day will keep your oil and sweat glands active and healthy. Similarly, having an exercise regimen is key to maintaining your overall health.
• Limit your alcohol intake: Because alcohol dehydrates us, it also dries out our skin. Over time, excessive use of alcohol will cause certain, more delicate areas of our skin (especially our faces) to lose their collagen and wrinkle.
• Practice an appropriate skin care routine: Regularly washing and moisturizing your face with products that are made for your skin type is another effective anti-aging technique that will keep your skin healthy. If you are unsure of what your skin type is, consult your doctor or dermatologist for a proper diagnosis. He can recommend over-the-counter or prescription products that are right for you.
• Protect yourself from the sun: Because the sun is one of the leading causes of premature skin aging, protecting your skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays is essential to fighting off premature skin aging. Wearing protective clothing (such as hats and sunglasses), regularly applying sunscreen and limiting your time in the sun are all effective ways to protect yourself from sun damage.
• Stop smoking: Smoking constricts the blood vessels in our skin. Narrower blood vessels mean that less blood and essential nutrients are getting to the skin, causing the skin's collagen to wither. In as little as 10 years, smoking can cause wrinkles and other signs of prematurely aged skin.

Following these tips will not only improve your skin, but it will also improve your self-esteem and overall health!

Resources

Skin & Beauty (June 18, 2007). Skin Care Secrets for Seniors. Retrieved November 2, 2007 from the Skin & Beauty Web site: http://skin-care.savvy-cafe.com/skin-care-secrets-for-seniors-2007-06-18/.