Most people in Louisiana really appreciate when our version of “winter” comes. The cooler temperatures and lower humidity are a nice break from the hot, humid summer that we just suffered through.
Despite this, the colder weather comes with its drawbacks. One of the negative sides of cold weather is the effect that it has on our skin. Let’s face it, we all want our skin to age as gracefully as possible.
But the winter air, with its lack of humidity, is drier, and its effects are amplified on aged skin since our skin’s ability to retain moisture decreases with age. The most common skin issues for seniors during the winter are asteatotic eczema and seborrheic dermatitis. There are changes that seniors can make to their daily lives during the winter to assist in reducing the negative effects of cold weather on the skin.
Use Skin Care Products
One of the easiest ways to combat dry air’s effects on the skin is to moisturize your skin regularly. Moisturizing is critical, especially for older adults, since seniors' skin loses moisture much easier than younger people.
Lotions can help, and some who are especially susceptible should consider heavy creams and ointments. Vaseline is suggested by doctors, and applying immediately after showering can assist in maximum effect. Additionally, covering moisturized areas with clothes can aid in absorption.
It is also important not to forget to use sunscreen during the winter. It is easy to forget about the effects of the sun when we are not drenched in sweat. But the sun can still damage our skin during the winter, even on cloudy days (learn more about the importance of elderly skincare).
Control the water around you
Dehydration can have a negative effect on your skin. It is much easy to remember to drink water during the summer months. However, drinking water can aid in skin protection since doing so aids in the amount of water available in your body to keep your skin from drying out. The easiest way to know if you are hydrated is to check your urine. In most cases, if you are getting enough water, then your urine should be pale to moderately yellow.
Another water aspect to keep in mind for the winter is to control the amount of time that you bathe in water at high temperatures. While a hot bath or shower during the winter may make you feel great, prolonged exposure to very hot water strip the skin of moisture and natural oils, leading to dry and damaged skin. To mitigate the self-induced negative effects that a hot shower can have, merely lower the temperature to help your skin during the winter months.
Lastly, in the list of water-related remedies is to add a humidifier to your space for use during the winter. Heaters can severely dry rooms that may already be dry during the winter months. Humidifiers can add moisture back into the air and prevent your skin from drying out so fast during the cold months. Humidifiers have the added benefit of also soothing dry and inflamed airways and scratchy eyes.
Implement These Tips on Your Own or With Our Support
Implementing these strategies is an easy task for some. But as you age, a little support can go a long way. Implementing preventative care, such as the tips above, can help enhance seniors’ quality of life. If help is what you need, Home Instead can provide in-home care in the Lafayette, LA, area to assist you with implementing these tips – and many more.
Home Instead can satisfy your in-home care needs in the form of home helpers for small tasks around the house, personal care for more specific personal needs, and even Alzheimer’s care and hospice support.
