Skincare Tips for Seniors

Over the years, mature skins present more issues and need extra help, which is why we bring you our best skincare tips for seniors.

The skin is brilliant and capable of repairing itself, but over the years, the skin of our seniors tends to present more issues and needs extra help, which is why we bring you our best skincare tips for seniors.

As the US National Library of Medicine points out: the skin is the largest organ in the human body. If you stop to think about it, it is the only organ in direct contact with the outside. In some way, it protects the organs inside our body, and we must learn to protect it.

The aging of the skin will be more or less evident depending on whether you have sunbathed a lot throughout your life, if you do not drink enough water, if you smoke or if you suffer from some type of disease, such as diabetes or kidney pathology. All this makes it easier for the skin to dry out, flake, and become rough to the touch, which can cause itching and make it easier for scratching to form wounds that can become infected.

Some of the most important internal factors that directly intervene in the aging of seniors’ skin are:

Hydration

Water acts as a natural diuretic (helping your elder produce more urine, and thus, can eliminate more waste substances to the outside) and also improves fluid retention. Therefore, for everyone, but especially for our elderly, maintaining good hydration is vital to maintaining their health. A properly hydrated body is characterized by a better skin tone and less tendency to flaccidity.

Fulfilling this point is quite easy and can bring you great benefits. Get started with two easy steps:

• Drink at least 2.5 liters of water a day.
• Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables in the diet.

Food

Naturally, several antioxidant mechanisms combat oxidative stress. Cells have enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and others that neutralize free radicals. However, these enzymes fail with age, and a healthy diet or topical application of antioxidant compounds and vitamins can help combat skin aging.

Some examples of superfoods that promote the health of our skin and delay aging are:

• Beans and legumes.
• Non-skim plain Greek yogurt.
• Salmon.
• Blueberries and other berries with little sugar.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Tomatoes.
• Dark green leafy vegetables.

What foods should we avoid?

• All refined or processed carbohydrates.
• Foods high in simple sugars.
• Packaged foods.
• Carbonated or highly processed drinks.

Emotionality

Emotions are the origin of the disease, and the skin is the “wrapping” that connects us with the outside. This is then the way that emotions have to externalize.

For example, it is well known that stress accelerates the natural changes in DNA, favoring aging signs and, in the opposite sense

being psychologically resilient, and learning how to regulate emotions and self-control, can slow them down. Therefore, helping our seniors, or allowing them to have the tools they need to manage their feelings, is vital for their mental and physical health.

External factors that directly intervene in the aging of seniors’ skin are:

Solar protection

Exposure to the sun favors dehydration and the appearance of spots. Therefore, protecting it from the sun is one of the most critical keys to avoiding the cumulative deterioration generated by the harmful effect of ultraviolet radiation. Consider the following tips:

• Daily application of reinforced sunscreen and be aware of when you need to re-application during the day.

• Exposures should be avoided during the central hours of the day.

• Minimize the exposure area using a shirt, hat, visor, and sunglasses.

• Remember that you should not let your guard down on cloudy days as they are just as dangerous or more dangerous than sunny days.

• Especially in the case of mature women, it is necessary to protect the eye and lip area with cosmetic products that combine the barrier effect against solar radiation with firming and regenerative properties. The pH of these products should be 7, suitable for the characteristics of senile skin.

External hydration

In addition to helping your body with a daily intake of at least 2.5 liters of water, you must consider the following steps to keep your skin hydrated:

•  Use a moisturizer after showering or bathing.
•  In dry spaces, use a humidifier.
•  Use mild soaps for personal hygiene.
•  Use warm water, better than very hot, for showering or bathing.

Remember to consult your doctor and keep up to date with all the tools that can help you ensure healthy aging.

In all Atlas Senior Living communities, we have health professionals whose main objective is to favor the total well-being of each of our residents. Be sure to schedule a tour in the community closest to your location.