4 Skin Care Tips for Seniors
Your skin is the largest organ in the human body. It consists of several components, including nerves, hair follicles, and blood vessels. The complex design of our skin helps the body feel sensations, as well as regulate body temperature. As we age, the skin experiences a decrease in the number of cell turnovers that keep it fresh and strong. This is especially true for seniors who reach their seventies. Because of the fact of life called aging, your skin needs more tender loving care to keep it not only looking fresh, but also performing the functions it is supposed to perform.
At our senior housing facility in Everett, Washington, our team of healthcare specialists educates residents on how to take care of their skin, as well as recognize the signs that indicate aging skin has started to show clear signs of diminished appearance and functionality. For example, aging skin feels and looks drier and thinner, as well as bruises and irritates more easily than when you were younger. Aging skin also heals more slowly and is more vulnerable to sustaining wounds.
Let’s review four skin care tips for seniors living at home, as well as in an assisted living community in Everett.
Gentle Washing
Aging skin produces fewer natural oils, which means you should pay attention to it drying out much faster than when you were younger. This means washing your skin less often, as well as gently washing it with milder cleansers such as soaps and alcohol-based personal hygiene products. Wash skin with warm instead of hot water and take just one bath or shower per day to minimize contact with cleansing agents that can be abrasive when applied to the skin of older adults.
Minimize Exposure to the Sun
Seniors learn about the negative healthcare impacts of overexposure to the sun early in life. The lesson has special relevance when you reach the golden years. When you go outdoors on a sunny day at an assisted living facility in Everett, take precautions to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Tips for minimizing exposure to the sun include shortening exposure times, as well as applying water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF rated 30 or higher. You also should seek shady locations, especially when the sun is at its peak power between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Diet Matters
“You are what you eat” has many meanings. For seniors, the timeless saying is important to remember for implementing skin care tips. To maintain healthy skin, your diet should consist of balanced meals that contain a rich amount of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Maintaining healthy skin involves incorporating foods such as fish, berries, walnuts, and avocados into your diet. At our assisted living facility in Everett, WA, our team of nutritionists ensures every meal contains the right food sources to help residents enjoy healthy skin.
Hydrate the Body
The body cannot go without water after just a couple of days before it starts to break down. Keeping the body hydrated throughout the day can keep your skin healthy by nourishing the new cells that form to replace the ones that have disappeared. One study discovered that individuals with below-average water consumption experienced an improvement in skin appearance by increasing hydration levels.
MorningStar Cares About the Health of Our Residents
MorningStar makes a passionate commitment to helping residents enjoy vibrant health, including maintaining healthy skin as they grow older. Our senior housing community in Everett has earned the reputation of delivering the best healthcare services. We encourage you to contact our facility to schedule a tour to see for yourself why MorningStar consistently ranks at the top of the best places for seniors to live.