The skin can do funny things as we age — wrinkle, develop spots, sag and thin. It can also produce other bothersome issues. But there’s good news: With proper care and attention, you can keep your skin feeling and looking well throughout your life. Here’s a list of three changes and how you can combat each concern.
- Allergies and irritations
More than 90 percent of older adults experience some type of skin disorder, according to Medline Plus. Everything from diabetes to lack of nutrients to stress can cause these irritations. Other culprits can be climate, indoor heating, allergies and exposure to chemicals.
Elements that never produced an irritation on your skin before may be problematic now. For instance, berries and nuts can produce hives in people who previously had no problems eating these foods. If you were able to sit in the sun or work out without any irritation before, now you might be noticing blotches or a rash after you sweat.
Combat the concern: Responding to these problems takes just a bit of extra monitoring and prevention. Watch your diet for changes certain foods produce and limit sun exposure. Boost your sun protection with a wide-brimmed hat or umbrella and be more diligent about daily application of sunscreen.
Also, consider a product like DermaQuest Skin Therapy Post Skin Resurfacing Balm, which contains hydrocortisone, antioxidants and hydrating ingredients to protect your skin from the environment and help heal inflammation.
- Bruising
Remember all those black and blues that marked your skin as a child? Unfortunately, they come back with age. (But no worries because they’re harmless.) Diminishing support around blood vessel walls causes easier bruising, according to Healthline. Plus, bruises don’t go away as quickly. According to the article, “Although the purplish discoloration may last days or weeks, a brownish discoloration — caused by an iron-containing pigment called hemosiderin — may linger for months or never disappear.”
Combat the concern: Thankfully, you can reduce the severity of bruising and the rainbow-like colors they make on the skin by incorporating vitamin C into your diet, immediately icing your skin after getting a bruise and moisturizing, which makes the skin more resilient to those bumps into the coffee table or bangs against the counter top. You can also use topical treatments to strengthen the skin. Try Auriderm Vanishing Gel, which aids in boosting blood vessel walls and decreasing pooled blood underneath skin.
- Itching
Once you hit your 40s, you’ll notice skin becoming drier and itchier, even if you tended toward oily skin in your youth. Chalk this change up to the loss of sweat and oil glands, which may exacerbate dry skin, says WebMD.
Combat the concern: Changing your bathing routine and the products you use can make a big difference in preventing and reducing itchy skin. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics recommends bathing two to three times a week with warm water and showering immediately after swimming in a pool. Use soaps made specifically for dry skin and apply lotion immediately after towelling off to lock in moisture. Avoiding alcohol, coffee and spicy foods can reduce dryness and itchiness. You can also try Stiefel Sarna Lotion, an emollient lotion with camphor and menthol that soothes dry, itchy skin. Plus, it helps with sunburn, bites and cuts.
Check with your doctor if tenderness, swelling or redness accompanies dry, itchy skin. It could be stasis dermatitis, a skin condition caused by poor blood flow in the lower legs. It’s most common in women over 50.
Even though your skin will experience a variety of changes as you get older, fortunately, most of these concerns are harmless — and easily prevented or treated. To maintain healthy skin, keep an eye out for allergies and irritations, bruising and itching, and practice the above measures to combat these concerns.
See also:
Anti-Aging Handbook
Ferulic Acid: Fighting Free Radicals and Aging
StriVectin Review: Leader in Anti-Aging Skincare
Eye Cream Review: Top 10 Products