Looking after older skin

Old skin is wrinkled, dry and saggy, and has a mottled colour but in fact, these changes are more to do with exposure to sunlight than with simply getting old which perhaps explains why some of us look so much older than others. It also explains why the exposed areas on the hands, face and neck seem to age faster and look less attractive than the smooth and even skin on the tummy.

Skin ages in two ways:
• sun damage, which is probably responsible for 80% of skin ageing
• normal ageing – but without sun damage we would probably not develop wrinkles until we were in our 80s.

We all know that the sun is very bad for our skin, cancers aside. It makes it thinner and damages its important proteins, such as collagen, which acts as scaffolding to give skin its strength, and elastin, which gives skin its bounce. Even young complexions develop fine wrinkles after sunbathing, giving the skin a coarse, grainy appearance.

Collagen also supports the tiny blood vessels in the skin. Weakening of the collagen means the blood vessels show up as broken thread veins (‘farmer’s face’) and bleed more easily; these tiny bruises end up as mottled discoloration. Brownish patches, known as liver spots, gradually develop on sun-exposed areas such as the hands and sides of the forehead.

Skin produces its own natural grease to protect itself and to prevent it from losing moisture. As we get older, our skin becomes more fragile, especially in sun-exposed areas, so it desperately needs the greasy protection. Unfortunately, older skin produces less grease, and every time we wash with soap we strip away the natural oils. Bubble baths contain detergent to make the foam, so they also remove oils from the skin.

Here are some hints to keep your skin in good condition.

• Use a sunscreen every day. This will prevent further ageing of your skin.
  
• If you smoke – give up! Cigarette smoke is linked with premature ageing as it breaks down the collagen and slows down its production. Avoid overwashing. As your skin does not sweat as much when you are older and does not produce as much grease, body odour is not such a problem as in younger people. Obviously, you want to be hygienic, but consider bathing or showering on alternate days instead of daily.
  
• Use a ‘cream bar’ or ‘cream body wash’, rather than a soap.
  
• Avoid foam baths (bubble baths).
  
• After bathing or showering, apply a body cream. This is better than using a bath oil, which can make the bath or shower dangerously slippery.
  
• Good general health will also help your skin so eat healthily, exercise, avoid stress, relax and learn to laugh. No one minds a few laughter lines.

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