Seniors must take extra care of their skin, since aging skin is less elastic and susceptible to infections. Winter is hard on skin as the cold months strip it of essential moisture. Here are 11 tips the elderly can use to care for skin during the cold season.
Why is aging skin prone to damage in winter?
The aging process causes skin to lose its natural oils, like sebum, which keep the skin hydrated. Due to its reduced ability to retain moisture, aging skin dries out more easily in dry winter weather. When the heat is turned up inside the home, it further dries out seniors’ skin.
Additional age-related issues that cause dry skin include seniors’ thinner skin. Their epidermis (the protective top layer of skin) thins, which causes the skin to become thinner and more fragile. Wrinkles are more pronounced in dry skin due to decreased collagen production, which provides elasticity.
What are skin care tips the elderly can use in winter?
1. Bathe in Warm Water
Warm, as opposed to hot, water is more beneficial for aging skin. Caregivers should bathe their elderly care recipients in lukewarm water to lock in essential natural oils. Hot water, conversely, strips aging skin of moisture and the necessary hydration. Dry off the senior with a fluffy towel.
2. Apply Moisturizer
After bathing and several times throughout the day, apply a fragrance-free moisturizer to the senior’s skin. Creams and lotions seal in the water and help the skin preserve its protective barrier. Choose a moisturizer that contains glycerin, which attracts moisture from the surrounding environment.
3. Lather on Sunscreen
Sun damage is possible even in winter. During the cold season, snow reflects the sun’s rays. Sunscreen serves to protect aging skin in both summer and winter. Lather on SPF 30 or greater sunscreen when the senior expects to be outside for more than a few minutes.
4. Protect Skin
In winter, seniors must bundle up in coats, mittens, scarves, and a hat. These cold-weather clothing essentials not only keep them warm but protect seniors’ skin from biting, dry winter air. Cracked, itchy, or otherwise damaged skin are the unwanted outcomes of exposure to the cold air.
5. Hydrate
Bodies are made up mostly of water, with the skin consisting of 64 percent water. Dehydration easily sets in during the winter months, when seniors neglect to drink enough water. Dehydrated skin sags and droops. Sip about 2 liters of water throughout the day, slurp soups or drink tea.
6. Eat Nutritiously
Seniors gobble up nutritious fruits and veggies in summer. But it’s crucial to continue eating healthy in winter, as a diet filled with healthy fats improves the skin’s health and appearance. Eat avocados, nuts, lean proteins, and colorful fruits. Prepare hot vegetable-filled stews and soups in winter.
7. Add Indoor Humidity
Run an indoor humidifier to return necessary moisture to the senior’s room when the heat is on. Artificially heated air saps moisture but a humidifier increases the surrounding air’s water content and combats the likelihood of dry skin. Turn on the humidifier at night, too, when the senior sleeps.
8. Exercise Regularly
An exercise routine improves circulation. Poor circulation, conversely, prevents skin cells from receiving sufficient oxygen and nutrients; as dead skin cells build up, the skin appears dry and cracked. Winter exercises ideal for seniors include indoor yoga or chair exercises.
9. Ease Exfoliation
Older adults who exfoliate with facial scrubbers in summer should ease up on their routine in winter. Chemical exfoliants, like lactic acids, are gentler on delicate, aging skin. Once the skin is exfoliated, follow up with a heavy layer of moisturizer. Exfoliation is still important during the winter months.
10. Choose the Right Products
When performing skin care in winter, it’s important to pick the right products. Avoid harsh soaps and choose a mild cleanser; for instance, rather than a foamy cleanser, switch to a cream cleanser. If light lotions are the go-to product in summer, opt for heavy creams in winter.
11. Avoid Tanning Beds
Seniors who aim to take good care of their skin in winter (or any other time of year) must avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds might boost vitamin D production on short winter days but they also damage the skin. This skin damage is not worth the few benefits.
Elder Home Care from Assisting Hands
A good skin care routine protects seniors’ skin from drying, cracking, and becoming otherwise damaged during the harsh winter months. A caregiver can help monitor the older adult’s skin for signs of dryness or irritation and assist with a moisturizing routine, among other care activities.
Seniors can find a dedicated caregiver at Assisting Hands Home Care. We support the skin care and daily routines of older adults by providing a comprehensive range of non-medical elder care services. Our in-home care keeps the elderly feeling comfortable, healthy, and safe.
Caregivers shop for fresh groceries and prepare vitamin-packed meals so aging care recipients eat nutritiously and stay hydrated—which benefit their skin. We ensure seniors dress appropriately for winter so that their skin remains unexposed to the harsh, dry weather conditions.
We provide assistance with hygiene tasks, like bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting. During winter, caregivers assist them with shorter, warm baths to prevent their skin from drying out. After the shower or bath, we apply unscented lotions to further seal in vital moisture.
In-home care services include transportation to nearby areas, like the medical office, as well as timely medication reminders and light housekeeping. We’re pleasant companions who whisk away the winter blues. Care options include compassionate Alzheimer’s care, respite care, and live-in care, among others.
Whether your aging loved one needs extra help with a skin care routine or simply could benefit from our hands-on support, Assisting Hands Home Care in Schaumburg, Illinois, is prepared to fulfill their care needs. Schedule a free in-home consult today to learn more about quality senior home care.
