How Our Skin Changes With Age

Our skin changes as we age. We develop wrinkles, spots show up, our skin sags and becomes more thin. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your skin vibrant, healthy, and looking its best for the entire course of your life. Here, we'll discuss some of the changes that your skin may go through and give you tips on how to reverse each one.

Skin Irritations. The majority of senior adults develop some kind of skin disorder. This may be due to health issues, such as diabetes, or because of changing nutritional needs. Stress, the weather, how your home is heated and cooled, and allergies can even be a causes. Things that never caused a problem for you may now be an irritant or cause an allergic reaction. Even younger people can develop allergies seemingly out of nowhere as our bodies just to react to things in strange ways sometimes.

You can limit these irritants by monitoring your diet and singling out foods that seem to give you a reaction. Also make sure that you are using stronger sunblock lotions more often. Your skin is more sensitive to sunlight now more than ever. You can also use a healing and moisturizing lotion designed specifically for aging skin to infuse your skin with needed vitamins and minerals.

Bruises. Many older adults bruise easily. It is normally not painful, but is simply a sign of thinning skin and veins.

You can help your skin stand up to more pressure by eating, drinking, and supplementing your diet with more vitamin C. You should also put ice on your skin immediately after you notice a bruise or as soon as you think a bruise may develop. Find a skin cream that is designed to strengthen skin and blood vessels. One such product is Auriderm Vanishing Gel, but there are any others as well.

Itching. Aging skin often becomes drier, and thus more itchy, as oil and sweat glands in your skin slow down or cease producing new material.

Because your body is not producing as much oil as it used to, you don't need to bathe as much as you used to. Unless you've been doing something that made you very sweaty, consider bathing less often. You'll be able to feel when you need a bath as you discover your body's new rhythm. You may only need to bathe two or three times a week. This will allow your body to produce as much oil as it needs in between washings. When you do wash, make sure to use soaps that are specifically formulated for dry skin and apply lotion as soon as you are dry. You may also want to avoid alcohol and very salty foods as these can contribute to dehydration.