Caring for Aging Skin
No matter your age, it’s never too late to change some habits and prevent more damage to keep your skin looking as youthful as possible.
- Be Sun Smart®: There are several things you should do to protect yourself from the sun:
- Generously apply water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays to all exposed skin. Look for the AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION® on products that meet these criteria. Reapply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and especially after swimming or sweating.
- Wear protective clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, when possible.
- Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
- Use extra caution near water, snow and sand because they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of getting sunburned.
- Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.
- Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
- Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.
When it comes to sun protection, there are a number of products available, including those for the face that are less oily, and many moisturizers and types of makeup have sunscreens in them. Follow these sunscreen tips:
- Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outside so that it can penetrate the skin and provide adequate protection.
- Use at least a shot glass full (one ounce) of sunscreen to cover your face and body.
- Reapply every two hours for continued effectiveness. Please note, makeup cannot provide continuous sun protection unless it is applied every two hours. For more information, read Facts About Sunscreens.
Additionally, there are other things you can do to prevent more damage to your skin:
- If you smoke, quit. Now you’ve got another reason to give up the habit: your skin.
- Don’t do facial exercises. If you do facial exercises, you may think you’re keeping your skin supple and young-looking, but you’re doing just the opposite by increasing lines and wrinkles.
- Bathe and moisturize. Because aging skin can be dry, flaky and itchy, it’s a good idea to use mild cleanser and warm water for bathing. After bathing, apply a moisturizer to your damp skin. Lotions and creams with petrolatum and lanolin can seal in moisture.
Also, the older you get, the more vigilant you should be about checking your skin for unusual or fast-growing spots, which could be skin cancer. For more information about skin cancer and what to look for, visit SkinCancerNet.
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