To Your  Professional Beauty Experience

Skin unfortunately changes with age. It thins, loses fat which causes volume loss and the smoothness reduces causing lines and wrinkles. Veins within the skin and bones are seen more easily due to the thinning skin. Scratches, cuts, or bumps can take longer to heal especially if secondary conditions such as diabetes or vascular disease are evident . Sunlight exposure leads to skin damage which causes wrinkles, dryness, age spots, and even cancer.

 

Common skin conditions during the aging process

​

Dry and itchy skin

​

Many older people suffer from dry spots on their skin, often on their lower legs, elbows, and lower arms. . There are many possible reasons for dry skin, such as:

• Not drinking enough liquids

• Spending too much time in the sun

• Being in very dry air

• Smoking

• Feeling stress

• Losing sweat and oil glands, which is common with age

• Hormonal changes

 

Dry skin also can be caused by health problems, using too much soap, antiperspirant, or perfume and taking hot baths can make dry skin worse.

Medication can also make the skin thin dry and itchy. 

​

Wrinkles

​

With age, skin begins to wrinkle. It can be accelerated by (UV) light from the sun which can make the skin less elastic. Gravity and loss of subcutaneous fat can cause skin to sag and wrinkle. Smoking, also can also have a detrimental impact on the skin and contributes to rapid aging.

​

Age spots and skin tags

​

Age spots, are flat, brown spots often caused by overexposure of the sun. They are bigger than freckles and commonly show up on areas like the face, hands, arms, back, and feet.

​

Skin tags are small, usually flesh-colored growths of skin that have a raised surface. They become common as people age, especially for women. They are most often found on the eyelids, neck, and body folds such as the armpit, chest, and groin.

​

Skin cancer

​

Skin cancer is a very common type of cancer which can be caused by the sun.. Sunlamps and tanning booths can also cause skin cancer.

Although anyone can get skin cancer, people with fair skin that freckles easily are at greatest risk. 

Check your skin once a month for things that may be signs of cancer.  Look for changes such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, black spots in the skin or a bleeding mole.

​

Check moles, birthmarks, or other parts of the skin for the “ABCDEs”

A = Asymmetry (one half of the growth looks different from the other half)

B = Borders that are irregular

C = Color changes or more than one color

D = Diameter greater than the size of a pencil eraser

E = Evolving; meaning the growth changes in size, shape, symptoms (itching, tenderness), surface (especially bleeding), or shades of color, see your doctor right away if you have any of these signs to make sure it is not skin cancer.

​

Keep your skin healthy

 

You can help to keep your skin healthy by following some of these steps:

• Limit time in the sun. It’s okay to go out during the day, but try to avoid being in sun during peak times when the sun’s rays are strongest. For example, during the summer, try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies. The sun’s rays can go through clouds. You can also get sunburned if you are in water, so be careful when you are in a pool, a lake, or the ocean.

• Use sunscreen. Look for sunshield with an SPF number of 50 if possible. Put the sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside. Sunscreen should be applied regularly.

• Wear protective clothing. A hat with a wide brim can shade your neck, ears, eyes, and head. 

• Don’t use sunlamps or tanning beds.