A vain person looks at the signs of aging in a person's skin and sees only the fading shadows of former youth. A wise person sees the wealth of experience and the long lifetime those signs represent. However one views aging skin, it does require a different style of care than does youthful skin.
As we age, our skin carries the history of our lives by showing damage from the sun and from bad habits such as smoking and poor diet. Our stress becomes engraved in our faces in the lines made by our scowls and our joy by the permanent traces of our smiles. Our skin becomes less elastic, dryer and may begin to spot, flake, form plaques and show other signs of having been in use for a while.
These signs and symptoms of age, however, do not mean that the days when the world looked upon us and saw our outward beauty are over. Aging skin is not the equivalent of unhealthy skin and it's still important to take care of our bodies. After all, no matter how long they've been in use, they're still the only ones we get!
Aging skin may become more sensitive to sunlight. Additionally, thinning hair and total balding expose the sensitive skin of the scalp directly to sunlight and this is cause for concern. Sunlight, or specifically, the UV light in it, causes melanoma, one of the most deadly of all cancers. Sunscreen is important to our skin, no matter what our age, and covering your scalp with a wide-brimmed hat can help keep your skin healthy and protected.
Skin on the hands and arms may start to spot and pigment may start to fade. Various creams, available with and without prescriptions can help treat these conditions. Again, on areas where the pigment has faded sunscreen is particularly important.
Facial skin may become more sensitive making lotion more important to retaining a healthy moisture balance. Men who shave, in particular, should make certain that they use a moisturizer after shaving and should stay away from harsh, alcohol-based after-shave colognes.
Aging skin is not a liability but it does require a bit more care than it did in years before. By keeping vigilant care over our skin, we can improve our appearance and still enjoy the good feeling that comes with looking our best. After all, some things really do get better with age.
Aging Skin
Caring For Aging Skin
