Skin Glow Decreases As Age Increases

Age Spots & Skin Tags are Common in Aged People

Every part of your body changes as you age and your skin is no exception to this. We all love to maintain a glowing skin and a lovely physique, but age spares none. Skin becomes loose, loses fat, is never smooth as before, veins and bones are more visible and scratches, cuts or bumps take longer to heal as a person grows old. Constant exposure to sunlight or years of sun tanning can lead to wrinkles, dryness, age spots and even cancer. Taking special care and protecting your skin can make it feel and look better.

Itchy Skin

Dry spots are common to any individual, especially during the cold season, and aged people are even more affected. Rough, dry and scaly skin patches are more often seen on the lower legs, elbows and lower arms. Few reasons for such dry skin include stress, smoking, exposure to dry air or too much sunlight, decreased liquid consumption, losing sweat and oil glands (common with age), diabetes and kidney disease. Using moisturizing cream, using milder soap, taking fewer baths, using warm instead of hot water and using a humidifier (appliance that adds moisture to the room) are few ways to help avoid dry, itchy skin.

Bruises

Bruises are more common and take longer time to heal in older people. Certain medicines and illnesses can cause bruises sometimes. It is better to talk to your physician if you find bruises in parts of your body covered by clothes. Some bruises might heal by themselves while some others might not. Read more on bruises and their association with diabetes at www.firsteatright.com.

Wrinkles

Skin begins to wrinkle as we age. UV rays from the sun (makes skin less elastic), gravity (causes skin to sag and wrinkle) and smoking (causes wrinkles) can affect the skin. While there are a multitude of methods proposed to deal with wrinkles, most of them don’t work while some can be painful or even dangerous. It is better to talk to your doctor if you are worried about wrinkles.

Age Spots, Skin Tags

Slightly bigger than freckles, age spots are flat, brown spots often caused by years of exposure to sunlight. They can appear in your face, hands, arms, back and feet. Skin tags are small, flesh-colored growths of skin that have a raised surface found commonly in eyelids, neck and body folds such as armpit, chest and groin. Both, age spots and skin tags are harmless and skin tags can cause irritation on your skin very rarely. If in case they hinder you in any way, it is better to get it removed by consulting a doctor.

Keep your Skin Healthy

While sunlight is good for health, you must be exposed to it in balanced quantities. To keep your skin healthy:

• Limit exposure: Going out during day time is not a sin, but don’t go out during peak times when the sun’s rays are strongest. During summer season, avoid staying out between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use sunscreen: Apply sunscreen some 15 to 30 minutes before you go out in the sun.
• Protect yourself with proper clothes: Wearing a big hat that can cover your neck, ears, eyes and head, sunglasses that block 99-100% of the sun’s rays and loose-fitting, long-sleeved, lightweight dresses are appropriate for going out in the sun.
• Avoid tanning: Refrain from using tanning pills, sunlamps or tanning beds to stay safe.
• Although skin changes as you age, there are certain things that you can do to protect your skin health.