As long as you are aging it is important to note that your skin will also change the same way with your age. This is because the skin becomes thinner, loses fat and will no longer look as supple and smooth as it was during the youthful says. Your veins and bones can be seen more easily. Scratches, cuts, or bumps can take longer to heal. Years of sun tanning or being out in the sunlight for a long time leads to wrinkles, dryness, age spots, and even cancer. But there are things you can do to help your skin.

Dry skin and itching

Woman Applying Skin Cream To Leg

Many old folks usually suffer from dry skin especially on their lower legs, elbows and lower arms. Dry skin is likely to feel rough and scaly but there are many possible reasons for this and some of them are such as:

• Not drinking enough liquids
• Staying out in the sun
• Being in very dry air
• Smoking
• Having stress
• Losing sweat and oil glands (common with age)
• Dry skin also can be caused by health problems, such as diabetes or kidney disease. Using too much soap, antiperspirant, or perfume and taking hot baths will make dry skin worse.

For the reason that older people have thinner skin, trying to scratch the itches may cause bleeding leading to infections. Some medicines make the skin itchier. Itching can cause sleep problems. If your skin is very dry and itchy, see your doctor. Moisturizers like lotions, creams, or ointments can soothe dry, itchy skin. They should be used everyday. Try taking fewer baths and using milder soap to help your dry skin. Warm water is better than hot water for your skin. Some people find that a humidifier (an appliance that adds moisture to a room) helps.

Bruises

When you are older you may bruise more easily than younger people and it will obviously take longer for your bruises to heal. It is also believed that some medicines or illnesses make it easier for you to get bruises. It may be a serious problem that needs medical attention when you see bruises on your body whose origin you may not really know.

Wrinkles

As time moves on your skin will automatically begin to wrinkle as a matter of fact. Things in the environment, like ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, make the skin less elastic. Gravity can cause skin to sag and wrinkle. Certain habits like frowning also wrinkle the skin. Some of these habits are easier to change than others. You may not be able to change how you lie when you sleep, but you can quit smoking. Not smoking is a great way to prevent wrinkles. A lot of claims are made about how to make wrinkles go away. Not all of them work. Some can be painful or even dangerous and many must be done by the doctor. Talk with a doctor specially trained in skin problems (a dermatologist) or your regular doctor if you are worried about wrinkles.

Age spots and skin tags

Even though age spots are sometimes called liver spots the really have nothing to do with your liver. These flat, brown spots are often caused by years in the sun. They are bigger than freckles, flat, and many times show up on areas like the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. Age spots are harmless, but if they bother you, talk to a dermatologist about removing them. Also, a sunscreen or sun-block may prevent more sun damage. Skin tags are small, usually flesh-colored growths of skin that have a raised surface. They are a common problem as people age, especially for women. They are most often found on the eyelids, neck, and body folds such as the arm pit, chest, and groin. Skin tags are harmless, but they can become irritated. A doctor can remove them if they bother you.

Skin cancer

It widely believed that the sun is the main cause of skin cancer and sunlamps and tanning booths are among the main culprits. Even though any one can get akin cancer, people with fair skin that freckles easily are at greatest risk. However it can be easily cured if it is detected before it moves to other body parts.

Check your skin regularly, like once a month, for things that may be cancer. Look for changes such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a bleeding mole. Also, check moles, birthmarks, or other parts of the skin for the “ABCDE’s.” ABCDE stands for:

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 changes in size, shape, symptoms (itching, tenderness), surface (especially bleeding), or shades of color

It would be wrong for anyone to wait for the area to hurt because cancer isn’t usually painful so the best advice is always to see your doctor as soon as you see any suspicious signs.

Keep your skin healthy

Your best protection in taking care of your skin is to stay away from direct as long and as often as possible. The sun’s rays are usually strongest between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and therefore those become the most dangerous times. This applies even during the cloudy skies because the ultra violet rays can easily penetrate the clouds. You can also get sunburned when you are in water so take care as well when you are in the pool, lake or ocean.

Look for a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) number of 15 or higher. It’s best to choose sunscreens with “broad spectrum” on the label. “Water resistant” sunscreen stays on your skin even if you get wet or sweat a lot, but it isn’t waterproof and needs to be put on about every 2 hours.

Wear protective clothing. A hat with a wide brim can shade your neck, ears, eyes, and head. Look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays. If you have to be in the sun, wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts.