Skin care tips you should embrace as you get older

When you think about all the wonderful things associated with getting older, how many of you would put increasing skin dryness and wrinkles on your list? We didn’t think so.

How you age is largely determined by your genetics, ethnicity, sun exposure and how you take care of your skin. There are a number of changes your skin makes as you age. You might have noticed one or more of the following:

• Drier skin
• Itchy skin
• An increase in the number of age spots, wrinkles and creases
• Skin that looks thin and paper-like
• Blotchy skin
• Skin that is easily irritated
• Skin that is more easily bruised
• An increase in skin infections
• Skin issues that take longer to heal

Take a bath

If you’re looking for what dermatologists recommend when it comes to caring for your skin, the information is quite simple. Regardless of your skin type or the concerns you might have about your skin, washing should be part of your daily routine.

If you’re suffering dry or itchy skin, you can prevent this by making a few subtle changes to your bath routine. First, if you’re still using bar soap, consider switching to a creamy, fragrance-free cleanser. Use warm water (not hot), which will decrease your skin becoming dry. Use a wash cloth (puffs, buffers and brushes can all irritate your skin). Have a short shower (probably not that difficult given the drought conditions across most of Australia at present), no more than 10 minutes. Pat your skin dry, leaving a small amount of water residue on your skin for when you apply your moisturiser. Moisturise.

For those who have visibly ageing skin on their face or neck, a cream cleanser rather than a foaming one is recommended. Because your skin loses its moisture, nutrients and natural oils as your get older, a creamy cleanser helps restore the moisture at the surface of your skin and this in turn can give you a fresher look.

Exfoliate

Most beauty consultants will recommend regular exfoliation of the skin. It’s important that, if you do exfoliate, you pay attention to how your skin responds to such treatment. This is especially important if you are diabetic and are looking to exfoliate the skin around your feet. Diabetes-related nerve and blood vessel damage can result in poor circulation and even a loss of sensation in your feet.

Exfoliating can remove the dead skin cells from your body, which is a great anti-ageing result. When it comes to exfoliates, especially on your face, go for something gentle, which will assist in removing the dullness from your skin and enhancing a more radiant-looking you.

Protect yourself from the sun

If you’ve noticed more wrinkles, age spots and blotches on your skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends you need to revisit your sun protection routine. Sun protection can ward off new age spots and blotchy, pigmented skin. It can also reduce your skin thinking and becoming dry … Not to mention decreasing your risk of skin cancer.

To that end dermatologists recommend:

• applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 rating or higher each day
• positioning yourself in the shade when outdoors, because sunscreen cannot block 100 per cent of the sun’s harmful rays
• wearing clothing that protects your skin from the sun.

Look at what you’re eating

Your skin has needs, nutritional needs. It goes without saying that in your 60s and beyond you are going to need a balanced diet including a healthy serve of vegetables, but there are also certain foods that can make your skin look more radiant. Dark chocolate (anything 70 per cent cacao or more), spinach, celery, carrots, paw paw and red capsicum are worth stocking up on (or introducing to your diet).

Go natural

If you wear perfume or cologne the fragrance could be irritating your skin. You can reduce the likelihood of dry and itchy skin by reducing the amount you use these products or removing them from your product line-up all together.

Be gentle

Dermatologists recommend patting yourself dry. Beauticians say too much rubbing and scrubbing of your skin isn’t good (regardless of your age). If you wear make-up, it’s crucial that you take care to gently remove it, especially around your eyes.

Get a check up

From the time you turn 50, your risk of developing skin cancer and other precancerous growths increases. Book in with your doctor or a skin specialist for a check up each year. Skin irritations and cancers found early and removed is the best advice for a happy life. Avoiding a skin check increases your risk of skin cancers spreading, which can cause all sorts of problems.

Your skin now needs dedicated, specialist care and these simple tips will have your skin looking its best in your 60s and beyond.