Aging Skin Care: What You Need to Know Now to Avoid Wrinkles & Sun Damage

Aging skin is one of the first outward signs of getting older and as we age, skin tends to become drier with more wrinkles, and it is common for spots and growths from sun damage to appear. After an injury, the skin tends to heal more slowly than it did in our younger years. Some of these changes are natural and unavoidable, but others are bothersome and can be quite serious. Many of these skin problems can be prevented. Whether they pose a danger to your health or you merely find them cosmetically unattractive, most problems with aging skin can be addressed by a variety of proven therapies.

What's Happening to Your Skin as You Age

As skin ages, it becomes thinner and more easily damaged. This effect intensifies as the skin's ability to heal itself decreases with age. Among other things, aging skin shows a decrease in volume and elasticity. There are many internal and external causes of skin aging. Internally, aging skin receives less blood flow and has lower glandular activity than younger skin. And many seniors and older adults with arthritis unknowingly accelerate the aging of their skin when they use a topical steroid such as cortisone for arthritis relief, as cortisone causes degradation of collagen (the strengthening fibers in the skin). These are just two common examples of the internal and external factors that are associated with aging skin.

Can Wrinkles & Sun Damage Be Avoided?

The fibers that keep the skin firm when we are young loosen with age, resulting in skin that looks less plump and smooth. Aging skin becomes loose and lax, loses fat and thins out. When skin becomes lax, gravity pulls and causes it to sag. Sun damage, cigarette smoking and genetics are all factors that contribute to how likely—and to what extent—a person is prone to wrinkles. The good news is that many wrinkles can be prevented.

As early as childhood, it is advisable to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. However, it is never too late to begin practicing a sun protection regimen. This includes avoiding sunbathing, wearing sunscreen daily, and wearing a brimmed hat and protective clothing when you will be in the sun. Since the skin makes vitamin D, a necessary nutrient, if you avoid the sun completely, you should compensate by taking 1,000–2000 IU of vitamin D per day.

Many nutrition experts suggest exposing your arms and legs to 20 minutes of sun, without sunscreen, two to three times a week to get the necessary vitamin D without causing major sun-related skin issues. Talk to your doctor to determine whether this is advisable for you and your skin type.

Treatments for Aging Skin

There are a number of treatments designed to improve the appearance of aging skin. Retinoic acid is the only FDA-approved drug that has been proven safe and effective for treatment of wrinkles caused by sun damage. It is available as a cream and has also been used successfully in treating acne. But there are many other treatments that can improve the overall appearance of aging skin.

• Retinoic acid improves the surface texture of the skin, reduces irregular pigmentation, and increases dermal collagen if applied daily for several months.
• Creases can be treated by a dermatologist, who injects collagen or fat into the creases to fill them out and create a smoother surface.
• Botox can be injected to "relax" the small muscles around the creases, and to temporarily eliminate those creases.
• Broken blood vessels around these wrinkles and can be treated with lasers or cautery.
• Fat folds can be removed by liposuction under local anesthesia.
• The appearance of wrinkled skin may be improved by resurfacing with dermatologic surgery, lasers, dermabrasion or chemical peels.

Further Reading

Aging skin requires special care. Click through to read Aging Skin Care: How Your Skin Plays a Role in Protecting Your Body and Aging Skin Care: How to Treat Common Skin Disorders of the Elderly.

Author's Note: References include Wikipedia, The American Academy of Dermatology, Web MD and the Mayo Clinic.

Posted in Senior Health, Understanding Aging Skin Care