Skincare for women over 60 demands quite a different type of care compared to the younger generation. This is because as we age, many changes occur in our skin. It includes becoming more sensitive to chemicals and UV rays as well as losing its natural elasticity.

You may think that skincare is no longer necessary for seniors like you since you’re already at the stage of developmental decline. Fortunately, there are still ways to achieve and maintain that healthy, glowing skin even after your 60s. That’s what I will discuss here.

What Skins Are Like When You’re Older

Our skin, when we get older, goes through a lot of changes. These changes include:

1. It becomes more prone to dryness.
2. It has more blotches and dark spots.
3. It loses its elasticity.
4. It has a duller skin appearance.

Nurturing for Women 60 and Above

To help you take care of your skin as you reach your golden years, here are some valuable tips you should keep in mind.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Don’t underestimate the power of a healthy lifestyle in achieving healthy, glowing skin. If you’re up planning for a skincare routine, the best way to begin is to remove unhealthy habits and change them to healthy ones. To guide you in starting a healthy lifestyle, here are several things you should keep in mind:

• Eat healthily - Always opt for vegetables and fruits as well as protein-rich foods when planning your meals as these are loaded with nutrients that keep the skin smooth, firm, and healthy.
• Keep hydrated - Senior women tend to have dry skin. This is because as we get older, our bodies cannot hold more fluids like when we were still young. Water is also essential in keeping your skin moisturized. That’s why experts recommend drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water daily.
• Make exercising a habit - Exercise helps improve the blood flow throughout your body. This will make it easier for the body to nourish cells and exfoliate toxins from the skin.
• Get enough sleep - Sleep is also essential in keeping your skin healthy. Aim for a fixed sleeping schedule of at least 8 hours to avoid dryness and dullness of your skin.
• Learn proper stress management - Stress is one of the culprits of skin dryness and acne. To avoid that, practice stress management tips or better yet avoid unnecessary stressors that can harm not just your skin but also your mental health.
• Always choose to be positive - Staying carefree and happy is believed to improve skin health as well as mental health.

Keep your skin protected from the sun

Our skin becomes more sensitive to the sun when we are older. Thus, it’s important to avoid exposure to direct sunlight.

If you do go outdoors while the sun is shining bright, it might help if you wear protective clothing such as a hat, umbrella, or long sleeve clothes. Make sure to have a gentle sunscreen with you too especially during outdoor activities where sun exposure is inevitable.

Use gentle cleansers

Choosing soaps and cleansers in your 60s or 70s is not the same as when you were in your 20s or 30s. Cleansers that contain potent ingredients might have worked for you before, but not anymore.

Make sure to opt for gentle cleansers free of fragrance, parabens, or sulfates as these ingredients can make dryness and dullness on your skin worse.

Use a humidifier

Using a humidifier at your home or workplace will help keep your skin moisturized especially when the air atmosphere is dry or when the place is air-conditioned.

Wear protective gear when cleaning or gardening

Seniors usually experience skin dryness, irritation, and itchiness when they get exposed to dirty stuff and harsh chemicals, especially during cleaning or gardening.

If you are the type of person who loves using his/her spare time in fixing the garden and cleaning the house, then you might be exposed to various germs, bacteria, and chemicals. Thus, to avoid getting your skin irritated, use protective clothing like gloves, long sleeves, or boots.

Bathe regularly

Bathing helps alleviate dry, itchy and irritated skin. Also, since senior skin is more sensitive, the allotted bathing duration should be shorter and soaps must be free from fragrance or potent ingredients. To help you create your bathing routine, here are some tips you should keep in mind:

• Use fragrance-free soaps and cleansers - Watch out for harsh ingredients such as parabens, sulfates,  or salicylic acid. Instead, opt for products that indicate “gentle” or “paraben and sulfate-free”. You should also look out for moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin, lanolin, or hyaluronic acid.
• Always use lukewarm water - Water that is too hot may stip off the remaining natural moisture from your skin, making it more dry and irritable. On the other hand, water that is too cold may cause chills, colds, or fever in the long run.
• Keep bathing time short - Ideally, bathing time for seniors should be shorter, usually, 5 to 10 minutes is enough.
• Pat dry excess water, do not rub - After bathing, gently remove excess water from your skin using a soft towel by patting it dry and not rubbing them as your skin might get irritated.
• Apply moisturizers after bath/shower - Use gentle moisturizing cream or lotion to lock moisture in your skin throughout the day.

Get regular skin check-ups

Our risk of getting skin cancer increases as we get older. An unhealthy lifestyle and continuous exposure to UV rays will also elevate the risks. That’s why it’s important to get regular appointments with your dermatologist to catch early signs of skin cancer. You can also do a routine skin self-check.

Do I Need a Dermatologist?

In most cases, a dermatologist may not always be necessary, especially for people who are knowledgeable about skin care. However, if you have existing skin conditions, it would be better to talk to your dermatologist first before trying anything on your skin.

Even if you don’t have serious skin conditions, it’s not a bad choice to consult a dermatologist in planning your skincare routine. In fact, s/he may even be able to provide creams and cleansers suitable for your skin type.

Take Aways

Skincare is not only for the younger generation, but it’s also essential among seniors. In fact, older skin needs more care and protection as it’s more prone to dryness and irritation. By following the tips mentioned above, you’ll surely be going to achieve youthful, healthy, and glowing skin even after 60.