The skin starts to lose flexibility and elasticity with age. So let’s find out the best possible ways about caring for the mature skin.
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Aging is an inevitable part of our life. One cannot stop the process of aging. So, it’s crucial how you respond to the process of aging.
A healthy lifestyle is the best way to slow down the signs of aging in an individual. Daily exercise, eating nutritious food, good night’s sleep, and leading a stressful life are wonderful ways to stay younger after 60 years of age.
The skin starts to age just like other body parts of an individual. The skin begins to lose fat and becomes thinner. It does look smooth like before. The scratches and cuts will take a long time to heal.
Again, if your skin has been exposed to excess ultraviolet rays during your youth and middle years, it may lead to wrinkles, age spots, and sometimes cancer. Well, there are numerous things you can do to protect your skin from looking younger, even at a mature age.
This article discusses a few tips about caring for mature skin. So, continue reading this article for more information.
Overview Of Your Skin
Your skin covers the entire surface of your body. It acts as a protective barrier that prevents the internal tissues from ultraviolet radiation, harmful chemicals, toxins, and bacteria.
The skin has mainly three layers, i.e., Epidermis, Dermis, and Fat layer. Each layer has specific functions.
- The Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin which sheds continuously over time.
- The Dermis is the middle layer of the skin which consists mostly of blood vessels, hair follicles, nerves, and sebaceous glands.
- The Fat layer is the innermost layer of the skin which protects the skin from injuries by acting as a shock absorber.
Remember that your skin changes constantly, i.e., it can improve or worsen. Your skin regenerates after every 27 days. So proper skin care is quite vital for the health of the skin.
Causes of Wrinkled Skin
Wrinkles are the lines that are seen on mature skin. Some wrinkles can even become furrows which are usually noticed on the eyes, mouth, and neck. There are various reasons for wrinkles, some of which I have covered below.
#1. Aging
When you grow older, your skin starts to lose fat and become less elastic. There is a decrease in natural oils on your skin. Consequently, you will develop saggy skin with wrinkles.
#2. Exposure to UV Rays
Exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun speeds up the aging process by breaking the connective tissue of the skin, i.e., elastin and collagen fibers which lie in the deeper layers of the skin.
When your skin doesn’t have supportive connective tissue, it loses its strength and flexibility. Consequently, your skin starts sagging and developing wrinkles permanently.
#3. Smoking
Smoking affects the collagen of your skin. As a result, your skin starts to develop wrinkles on the skin.
#4. Repeated Facial Expressions
A groove forms under the skin’s surface whenever you use your facial muscle while smiling or squinting. Well, when the skin ages, it loses its flexibility. So it can’t spring back to its original position, which leads to wrinkles.
How Can You Care For Your Mature Skin?
Caring for mature skin is different from caring for teenage skin. For instance, if a woman has been battling for the last two decades with oily skin, she may notice sudden changes in her skin in her old age.
The oily skin may suddenly vanish, only to be replaced by dry skin! So, caring for mature skin often involves changing lifelong habits. I have listed a few ways which will help in taking care of your mature skin.
#1. Bathe To Shed Dry Skin
Many older adults develop dry spots on their skin, mainly on the elbows, lower legs, and arms. The dry spots may become rough and scaly with time.
Older adults have thinner skin. Scratching can cause bleeding and may lead to infection. Some medicines can make the dry spots itchier. So it’s best to consult the dermatologist before applying any medication.
These are various reasons for developing dry spots:
- If the fluid intake is less
- If one spends too much time in the sun.
- Smoking
- Feeling stress or going through depression
- Staying in a very dry climate
- Losing sweat glands with ages
- Using too much soap
- Bathing in hot water
- Suffering from prolonged-lasting diseases like diabetes or kidney diseases.
You can make some simple changes to your bath routine to reduce dry, itchy skin:
- You can put on moisturizers, lotions, or creams on your body for three minutes after bathing.
- You need to pat the skin gently after bathing, but try to leave a few water droplets on your skin so that when you apply moisturizer, the water drops help in hydrating the skin.
- Take showers every day, but don’t bathe in hot water. It will make dry out your skin. Instead, use lukewarm or warm water.
- You can use a soft cloth to wash your skin because a bath brush makes you irritated and dry.
- Always wash your body with a gentle moisturizing soap or body wash.
- You can use a humidifier to maintain the humidity in a room.
- Don’t use bath oil because it increases the chances of falling on the bathtub.
#2. Wear Gloves
When you work around your house, your skin is exposed to harmful chemicals and sunlight, which may dry your skin. It’s best to use gloves while doing any work on the house. The gloves even protect you from all possible injuries.
#3. Protect Skin From Harmful Rays Of Sun
Exposure to ultraviolet rays can speed up the aging process. So, it’s best to avoid the harmful rays of the sun. The possible ways which you can do to protect your skin are as follows.
- Apply a water-resistant sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 or above to skin that is not covered by clothing
- Try to wear long-sleeve shirts with pants and sunglasses to avoid the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
- You should prefer to stay in the shade when the sun’s rays are strongest, i.e., in between, 10 am to 2 pm.
#4. Go Fragrance-Free
Fragrances may irritate your skin, causing it to dry and itch. It’s best to avoid perfumes and skincare products that have fragrances.
#5. Use Eye Cream
The skin around your eyes is very sensitive, and it is more likely to develop wrinkles and dark circles with age. Good eye cream is the best option to avoid wrinkles around the eyes.
#6. Examine The Signs Of Cancer
The possibility of dreadful diseases like cancer increases as you get older. It’s best to regularly examine the signs of cancer so that the treatment can be done effectively at an early stage. If cancer spreads throughout your body, then the treatment becomes difficult.
Wrap Up
Your skin is exposed to many forces as you age, i.e., harsh environmental conditions, sun rays, and bad habits like smoking. Apart from it, improper food, pollution, and less water intake can affect your skin and speed up the aging process.
As a result, your skin becomes transparent, more fragile, and slack. You cannot stop the aging process, but you can minimize it by adopting the above possible tips.
I hope this article has given you some helpful information about caring for mature skin. Don’t forget to share your experience if the above methods have worked effectively for you!
