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How Does Your Elderly Loved One's Skin Change? as She Ages?

Posted: 12/30/2016 2:24 PM by Interim HealthCare

The largest organ in the human body is the skin and your elderly loved one is likely to notice a lot of changes to her skin as she ages. Some of these changes may not be a big deal, but others, such as dry patches of skin, can be uncomfortable.

It's a Little Drier than it Used to Be
Your loved one's skin naturally produces less oil as she ages than it used to produce. As a result, her skin looks and feels drier than it ever was. One solution for this problem can be to drink more water because your loved one's skin hydrates from the inside out. She may also get results from using skin lotions and oils regularly after bathing. Try to avoid hot water during showers and baths as this can dry your loved one's skin out even more.

She Sweats Less than She Used To
Another side effect of aging can be that your elderly loved one isn't able to regulate her body temperature as well. Part of the reason that this happens is that your loved one's skin stops producing sweat the same way that it always did in the past. It's important to pay attention to your loved one's environment to help her accurately gauge whether she's getting too hot or not.

She Loses that Layer of Fatty Tissue
When your loved one was younger, she likely had a thicker layer of fatty tissue right under her skin. This layer of tissue helps to keep her skin plumped, so as your loved one ages, her skin appears thinner and less supple. Maintaining muscle tone and eating healthily can help your loved one's skin to maintain a little bit more of its support underneath.

It Changes Appearance, Too
Your loved one's skin is also likely to develop age spots, wrinkles, and other changes to its appearance. Some of these changes you can help to combat with things such as sunscreen, lotion, and protective clothing. If you notice significant changes happening quickly, you might want to make an appointment with your loved one's doctor to talk about what those changes could mean to your loved one's health.
Your loved one's elderly care providers likely have tips for taking care of your loved one's skin that can help you keep it looking and feeling great.

More information about elderly care.