Your skin isn't just your outermost protective layer—it's your body's largest organ. Skin has a lot of jobs to do, like keeping out germs and regulating your body temperature.
Just like other organs, your skin changes as you get older. It naturally becomes thinner and more fragile, making skin care for seniors an essential part of healthy aging.
Learning how skin changes over time, along with how to care for it, can help you and your loved ones keep your body’s largest organ strong and healthy.
- How Skin Changes with Age
- What Your Skin Can Reveal About Health
- Best Tips for Senior Skin Care
- Choosing the Right Skin Care Products
- Skin Care for Seniors FAQs
How Skin Changes with Age
As we age, our skin cells renew more slowly, and we produce less oil and collagen, the protein that helps keep skin firm. For women, hormonal changes that come with menopause can also reduce moisture and firming proteins in the skin.
These age-related changes in skin function lead to thinning, dryness, loss of elasticity, and easier bruising. They also cause age spots and wrinkles, especially in people who have spent a lot of time in the sun.
Sun exposure isn’t the only lifestyle factor that can affect how skin ages. Hydration, nutrition, and circulation all contribute to skin health.
What Your Skin Can Reveal About Health
Certain skin issues can be a signal that something more serious is going on beneath the surface. Symptoms such as dryness, rashes, slow-healing wounds, and discoloration can be signs of health problems like diabetes, heart disease, or autoimmune conditions.
Good skin care for seniors involves knowing what to watch for and when to consult an expert. You or your caregiver should contact a doctor if you notice:
- Itching or rashes that won’t go away
- Wounds that don’t heal
- Unexplained bruising
- Redness, pain, or swelling
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on moles and other dark spots. Changes in these spots or the sudden appearance of new ones may be a sign of skin cancer.
Best Tips for Senior Skin Care
Although none of us can stop the aging process, we can take steps to keep our skin healthy as we grow older. By incorporating these simple tips into your senior skin care routine, you can make sure that you and your loved ones are providing the extra support your skin needs.
Hydrate and Moisturize Daily
As we age, our skin produces less of the oils and other substances needed to retain water. This can leave skin feeling uncomfortably dry—especially in environmental conditions like extreme heat and cold, wind, and dry indoor air.
To keep your skin hydrated, choose gentle cleansers that are free of fragrances and other irritating chemicals. Right after bathing, apply a fragrance-free moisturizer with ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin that help form a protective, hydrating layer on the skin. Applying these moisturizers while the skin is still damp helps lock in moisture, making them more effective.
Wear Sun Protection
While many skin care products are good for moisturizing your skin, they generally don't protect against UV rays unless it's specifically noted. Some acidic ingredients in lotions and creams can actually make your skin more sensitive to sun exposure.
Sun exposure leads to a process called photoaging, where sun damage speeds up skin aging and causes symptoms like wrinkles and age spots.
The best way to prevent photoaging is to protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays, which can cause damage even on cloudy days. You can do this by:
- Applying sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 every day
- Wearing lightweight clothing to cover your skin
- Seeking shade whenever possible during outdoor activities
Sunscreen protection wears off over time, so make sure to reapply every two hours if you'll be outdoors for a while—especially if you’re at the beach or pool.
Prevent and Relieve Itching or Irritation
When you take dry, sensitive, aging skin and add the everyday irritants you likely encounter, such as detergents and low humidity, it creates a recipe for itchiness.
If you or your loved one is bothered by itchy and irritated skin, you may want to:
- Switch to a gentle, fragrance-free detergent.
- Avoid hot water, which can worsen dryness and irritation, and opt for soothing lukewarm baths instead.
- Make sure skin care products are alcohol-free because alcohol can be drying.
- Apply a thick layer of ointment like petroleum jelly to itchy areas while the skin is still damp from bathing.
Support Skin from the Inside Out
Senior skin care isn’t just about what you put on your skin. It’s also about making sure you’re giving your body the nutrients and hydration it needs to stay healthy.
Consider including fish like salmon and tuna in your meals as they're rich in omega-3 fatty acids that can help moisturize your skin from the inside out. Also, don’t skip colorful fruits and vegetables like spinach and berries, which are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants that can protect skin cells from damage.
Of course, nothing boosts hydration like drinking clean water. Keep a water bottle close at hand to encourage drinking throughout the day.
Physical activity is also good for skin health because it boosts blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to skin cells. A quick walk or gentle stretching can do wonders for circulation and help your skin glow.
Choosing the Right Skincare Products
So many products are available that it can be challenging to know which are best for aging skin. Look for ones that balance gentleness with effectiveness. Select ones that are free of harsh, potentially irritating chemicals like hydroxy acids (exfoliants), fragrances, and alcohol, while including active ingredients that support healthy skin.
Some ingredients that may benefit mature skin include:
- Ceramides, which help strengthen the skin’s barrier to protect against “intruders” like bacteria and allergens
- Hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture to the skin to keep it hydrated
- Vitamin C, which may help even out and brighten skin
- Niacinamide, which can soothe inflammation
- Shea butter and coconut oil, which can lock in moisture
Even if a product is advertised as “safe for sensitive skin” or seems to contain gentle ingredients, it’s still a good idea to test it on a small area of skin and wait at least 48 hours to make sure it doesn’t cause a reaction.
Skin Care for Seniors FAQs
What do dermatologists recommend for older skin?
Dermatologists recommend sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and gentle products formulated for your skin type. Choose cleansers and moisturizers that are fragrance- and alcohol-free and include soothing ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
What vitamin tightens loose skin?
Antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin A may help tighten loose skin. Vitamin C is a common ingredient in skin care products like moisturizers and serums, and it can also be found in foods such as citrus fruits and leafy greens. Many dermatologists recommend moisturizers containing retinol, a form of vitamin A proven to support aging skin.
What vitamin do you need to treat crepey skin?
There's not just one vitamin that helps crepey skin. Vitamins A, C, D, and E each contribute to fortifying your skin—A and C boost collagen production that can make skin firmer, D strengthens the skin barrier and promotes healing, and E both hydrates the skin and helps retain moisture.
Is collagen or retinol better for crepey skin?
Both collagen and retinol can be beneficial for crepey skin. Collagen firms up skin by giving it structure, while retinol helps thicken the collagen already present in our bodies to support crepey skin.
BrightStar Care® Can Help Support Senior Health
We all want to feel comfortable and confident in our skin as we get older. Taking care of senior skin includes monitoring any suspicious symptoms or changes while encouraging a consistent skin care routine, along with healthy habits like eating well and staying hydrated.
BrightStar Care caregivers and nurses are experienced in monitoring and handling the challenges of aging, including personal care needs such as skin care.
Whether you're looking for in-home personal care or wound care from a skilled nurse, our local care team members are ready to help. Find a location near you, contact us online, or call (866) 618-7827 to learn more about how BrightStar Care offers A Higher Standard®.