Skin Care Tips for Seniors: What Dermatologists Want You to Know

Healthy aging means many things and includes wearing your maturity like a badge of honor. Embrace those laugh lines and crow’s feet as hallmarks of a life well-lived with all its ups and downs.

But not all skin changes are welcome and some can be downright uncomfortable. In general, the outer layer of your skin thins as you age, losing strength and elasticity. This leaves you open to various skin problems that require extra attention to help you look and feel your best. Additional care also provides added protection that helps prevent further skin damage.

Here are some skincare tips for seniors and dermatologists' recommended products to help you achieve your healthy skin goals.

1. You Can Still Prevent Sun Damage

Ever hear the adage, “The damage has been done.” While it might true in some circumstances, it’s not that simple when it comes to your skin. It’s true that you can’t undo the damage of years spent in the sun with unprotected skin, but it’s also true that it’s never too late to prevent new damage.

Even if you’ve never worn sunblock before, you’ll still benefit from using it regularly to prevent the onset of new or future skin cancer. Most dermatologists recommend a broad-spectrum sunblock that is SPF 30 or higher to protect you from both UVA and UVB rays

It is also recommended that you use a mineral-based sunblock made with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide rather than chemicals like avobenzone and oxybenzone. The FDA is CURRENTLY evaluating many sunscreen ingredients that are absorbed into the skin to determine their safety.

2. Use Non-Soap Cleansers

“Non-soap cleanser” might seem like an oxymoron. But traditional soaps aren’t friendly toward aging skin that is becoming drier and more sensitive. They contribute to your skin woes and aren’t the best option for senior skin care.

Soap-based cleansers extract the natural oils from your skin that keep it hydrated and protected. But if you switch to a non-soap cleanser that is fragrance-free, your skin can retain much-needed moisture and remain protected from the elements.

3. Be Gentle and Move More Often

Aging skin is thinner and more fragile, making it easier to damage and slower to repair and heal than younger skin. In fact, it could take up to four times longer for your skin to heal now than it did when you were younger.

This makes you more susceptible to pressure ulcers (pressure sores or bed sores) and infections. This problem can be multiplied if you also battle diabetes, immunity problems, or blood vessel problems.

So, be gentle with your skin by forgoing aggressive exfoliating and moving more often to prevent sores. Just getting up and moving for a few minutes improves blood flow to your skin and can prevent damage.

4. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

All of the things you’re supposed to do to maintain overall health also support your skin health. Senior skincare tips include healthful habits like:

• Not smoking
• Getting adequate, quality sleep
• Exercising regularly
• Managing stress
• Eating nutritious foods (especially fruits and vegetables)

Caring for your physical and mental/emotional health does wonders for your skin. Even being social and spending time with friends elevate your mood and gives you a “healthy glow” that goes far beyond your skincare routine.

11 Affordable Senior Skincare Products

Now that you know the best tips for keeping your skin healthy, you’re probably wondering what products can help you achieve the best results without draining your bank account.

Here are some dermatologist-approved products designed to protect and nourish senior skin.

1. Dove Beauty Bar

This classic is still tough to beat. It’s a hydrating, non-soap cleanser that helps your skin maintain a neutral pH balance for optimal function. It also contains moisturizing cream and helps your skin keep more of its natural oils.

• Price: under $5

This all-over moisturizer is perfect for those dry, winter months that wreak havoc on senior skin. You’ll benefit from the oat complex that combats inflammation and itchiness. And the ceramides (waxy molecules found naturally in healthy skin) will help protect and nourish your skin even during the driest months.

• Price: under $20

3. Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion

If you’re suffering from damaged, severely dry skin, you’ll need a lotion that not only repairs but also heals. Damaged skin often contains microscopic cracks that cause dryness and inflammation.

This product forms a thick layer on your skin that locks in moisture and gives your skin time to repair itself.

• Price: Under $5

4. Cetaphil Restoraderm Body Moisturizer

If you have hypersensitive skin or eczema, you could really benefit from this product. It is both preservative- and fragrance-free. And as with many Cetaphil products, it bears the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association.

• Price: under $20

5. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Regardless of where you live or the current season, it’s recommended that you wear a product like this with broad-spectrum SPF 30 daily. It prevents sun damage, skin cancer, and keeps you moisturized. But unlike similar products, this one contains soy to even out your skin tone. This is especially helpful for those dealing with skin discoloration.

• Price: under $20

6. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream for Extra-Dry Skin

Use this product to boost moisture content in very dry skin. It accomplishes this goal using large molecule hyaluronic acid that absorbs 1,000 times its weight in water. Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in healthy skin and helps your tissues retain moisture and stay well lubricated.

Neutrogena's product is effective and affordable. It’s especially recommended if other products aren’t providing enough hydration for your extra-dry senior skin.

• Price: under $20

7. EltaMD UV Lotion Broad-Spectrum SPF 30+

This product is most appropriate for daily use on exposed areas like your neck, chest, and upper arms. After all, it’s not only your face you want to protect from sun exposure, and you would be surprised at how much UV your upper absorbs during the course of a day.

• Price: under $40

8. RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Facial Night Cream

UV light is not only responsible for developing cancer cell growth, it also damages collagen. This leads to lines and wrinkles, making it an enemy of senior skin care.

While sunblock can protect you against future damage, it can’t undo existing UV damage. But products containing retinol, like the one above, can do just that. Retinol is the best-studied over-the-counter antiaging ingredient and is known to stimulate collagen production to strengthen your skin’s foundation. It minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

• Price: under $20

9. SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream

This is one of the strongest over-the-counter retinol products available. If your skin is extremely dry or easily irritated, it’s probably best to choose SkinCeuticals product with 0.5 retinol instead of 1.0. If you have highly damaged skin to repair, this is your most effective, easily acceptable option for restoring health. It’s a bit pricier but worth it.

• Price: under $80

10. Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector

This product also boasts the benefits of retinol and is best for skin brightening and smoothing, especially when it comes to age spots. Dark skin spots become more visible once you reach your 60s, and this corrector can help you shrink noticeability.

You’ll also benefit from the high concentration of vitamin C found in this Neutrogena product. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that reduces the inflammation that affects your skin pigmentation. When paired with retinol, it’s a powerful antidote for age spots and other discolorations.

• Price: under $30

11. Olay Professional ProX Intensive Wrinkle Protocol Set

If you’re hoping to avoid the use of a plastic surgeon or a prescription for wrinkle reduction, this Olay product is your best option. Apply treatments from this wrinkle smoothing set daily. It’s clinically proven to work as well as prescription-only Renova.

• Price: under $40

But What About Your Skin “Down There”?

If you have incontinence or bladder leaks, you need to consider skin care beyond areas that are obvious and exposed. In fact, a big part of incontinence skin care requires premium, effective incontinence products that lock away moisture to keep your skin dry even when you can’t immediately replace your incontinence pad or underwear.

But it’s also important to take preventative measures and address symptoms like:

• Itching
• Burning
• Pain or tenderness
• Lesions
• Redness or inflammation

TYE medical offers premium incontinence products with discreet, free shipping on all orders. Shop our online store for incontinence underwear and pads and be sure to consider our Formula 2 moisturizer and barrier cream as well as  other skincare products.

For more information about incontinence-related skin care, read our article,  Incontinence Dermatitis: How to Maintain Healthy Skin While Managing Urine Leaks .