7 Skin Care Tips for Seniors

As you get older, your skin starts losing its natural glow and becomes more sensitive, which requires extra care and protection. It’s necessary for seniors to take care of their skin even more. Without proper care, your skin can become drier, thinner and vulnerable to damage or skin related diseases such as dermatitis and infections which takes much longer to heal.
As a compassionate senior living community, we want older adults to feel good about themselves. That’s why we have come up with seven skincare tips for seniors to help them nurture and protect their skin from the natural effects of ageing.

• Eat Healthy Food

Make sure you consume a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants and essential minerals. Include green vegetables, berries, melons, avocados, walnuts and salmon in your meals. These foods are great for the skin and help in promoting tissue integrity that prevents skin damage.

• Moisturize Your Skin

As we age, our skin becomes dry, which means staying hydrated is important to help prevent cracking, itchiness and rashes. Moisturize your skin by applying a fragrance-free lotion on the skin after every shower and bath. Try to use natural products for best results.

• Drink Plenty of Water

It’s no secret that water promotes healthy skin and keeps it looking young. So, the most natural method of skincare is drinking plenty of water. It helps in reducing wrinkles, hydrating the skin and flushing out toxins from the body. It’s also important to increase your water intake during hotter months. Not only is this beneficial for the skin, but it also helps prevent dehydration.

• Avoid Excessive Bathing

As a preventive measure to keep your elderly skin from injuries, it’s advisable to take less frequent showers. Excessive bathing, especially for long periods of time, can increase damage and strain to the skin. Also, using hot water for bathing for older adults can make their skin susceptible to dryness and burns.

• Stop Smoking

Smoking is harmful habit that affects the skin and over time, gives it a leathery and dry feel. It leads to a myriad of health issues, accelerates the ageing effect and destroys collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of the skin. The toxins also reduce the moisture of the skin. Therefore, if you smoke it’s recommended that you quit to prevent unhealthy, dry skin.

• Use Sun Protection

Excess exposure to sunlight can lead to sunburn, skin cancer, wrinkles and increased risk of skin discolouration. When you step out into the sun, make sure that you wear proactive clothing and use sunscreen. SPF 50+ is recommended for better protection from the harmful effects of the sun.

• Use Natural Skin Products

As you age, your skin changes and so does the type of skincare it needs. Avoid using artificial products made with toxic chemicals, and switch to those made of natural ingredients such as aloe vera, olive oil, cucumber extract, coconut oil, vitamins A or E and herbs.
Ageing does not mean that your skin can’t look vibrant and healthy. A few simple changes in your lifestyle can give you glowing skin. The above-mentioned tips will help you keep your skin youthful and turn back the clock, while reducing wrinkles and skin damage. Start today by applying moisturizer at least twice daily, drinking plenty of water and using sunscreen while stepping out in the sun.
At River Road, we care about the wellbeing of our residents. If you’re a caregiver in a retirement home, offer these valuable skincare tips to help seniors feel confident and healthy.