Fact of Life

“Aging is a fact of life. Looking your age is not.” (Dr. Howard Murad)

There are many reasons that your skin ages. Those reasons include: smoking, over-exposure to the sun, stress, lack of sleep, cold weather, alcohol, and lack of exercise. The seven signs you are aging is told in the story of your skin:

Blotchiness and age spots-Thinning skin associated with ageing leads to the increased visibility of tiny bloods vessels that appear. Age spots or liver spots, which are reddish or brown in color, are caused mostly by over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, and become more evident in ageing skin. They produce a blotchy look that contributes to an aged appearance.

Dry skin-Young, healthy skin has high moisture content, leading to a fresh, dewy and radiant appearance. Over the ageing process this depletes as the skin loses its ability to retain the moisture. Older skin is often characterized by dryness and dehydration.

Dullness of skin-The glowing, dewy skin of youth slowly fades with age. The result is a dulled complexion due to the depleted moisture levels in the top layer of the skin, which naturally occurs with age. While young skin renews itself at every three to four weeks, older skin is slower to renew itself at every four to six weeks.

Fine lines and wrinkles-Fine lines, crow’s feet and wrinkles are the most evident and often most concern-causing signs of ageing for men and women. Wrinkles are a result of the elastin and collagen fibers, which keep your skin firm and taut, weakening. This leads to skin looseness and laxity and the subsequent wrinkles.

Rough skin texture-As the skin matures, changes in texture become noticeable. Skin that was once baby-soft and smooth becomes uneven and bumpy on the surface due to the layers of dead cells and the cell turnover slowing.

Uneven skin tone-Ageing causes the complexion to become uneven in certain places. This may be due to parts of the skin harboring more melanin than others, or the function in the hormonal levels in females. This unevenness can lead to skin looking older than its years.

Visible pores-Pores become enlarged or more visible with age due to loss of skin elasticity and skin being drawn down by gravity.

Necessary skincare guidelines for older adults:

Be sun-smart: Stay out of the sun, whenever possible, during the time when rays are strongest (10 am to 4 pm). You can get sunburned even when it’s cloudy or when you’re in water.

Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 or more. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going out and reapply every two hours. Avoid sunlamps, tanning beds and tanning pills.

Don’t smoke: Smoking damages your skin in numerous ways, contributing to wrinkles and otherwise aging your skin. Blood vessels in the outer layer of skin narrow in smokers, reducing blood flow and depleting the skin of nutrients and oxygen. Collagen and elastin, which provide elasticity in skin, are damaged by smoking, as well.

Dress to protect: Wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts, along with a wide-brimmed hat as well as sunglasses that block the sun’s rays.

Drink up: Make sure you get 64 ounces of fluid daily for hydration. When you dehydrate, your skin does, too. This also increases the chances you’ll injure your skin.

Eat better: Minor nutritional deficiencies can cause rashes, skin lesions and other skin changes. Make sure you're getting a healthy mix  of foods in your diet.

Humidify: Put a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the air.

Limit drying substances: Using too much soap, perfume or antiperspirant can make dry skin worse.

Moisturize your skin: Consider a fragrance-free moisturizer, and keep your skin well-hydrated to help prevent the cracking and itchiness that can accompany dry skin. This will help to prevent future problems.

Sleepy time: Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to give your body (including skin) time to heal and rejuvenate. A good night’s sleep helps you emotionally deal with all the challenges that are part of your daily routine.

Wash gently: Use warm water rather than hot when you wash, and avoid taking too many baths or showers. Use mild cleansers rather than harsh soaps and alcohol-based products. Avoid bath oils as they make the tub slippery, increasing the risk of falling.

“Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope as old as your despair.

In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber. So long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, so long are you young. When your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and then only, are you grown old. And then, indeed as the ballad says, you just fade away” (Douglas MacArthur)[i]

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[i] Adapted from:

·       “The seven signs of ageing “by Platinum Dermatology

·       “10 Essential Skincare Tips for Older Adults“ by Kendal at Home

 

Santa Claus and Grandma Eagle (and her aged skin)