Blog > Four Things Seniors Should Avoid if They Want Healthy Skin

Four Things Seniors Should Avoid if They Want Healthy Skin

For seniors, keeping their skin healthy is more than just cosmetic. Skin problems like dry, cracked skin or rashes can lead to skin infections and other serious problems. Often for seniors, their skin is a good indicator of their overall health. Healthy skin means relatively good health. That’s why seniors need to do whatever they can to keep their skin healthy.

Seniors should drink water and be eating healthy to keep their skin healthy. However, they should also avoid these things to get healthy skin:

Damp Or Wet Skin

Seniors who struggle with incontinence or seniors who exercise daily can end up with damp or wet skin due to sweat or urine leaks. Having wet skin is uncomfortable and unhealthy. Seniors who experience wet or damp skin could end up with harmful bacteria. These bacteria could cause skin infections in small cuts or scratches in the skin.

Homecare can help seniors solve the problem of having wet or damp skin. With homecare, seniors will have help changing their clothes after exercise. Now, they can always have clean dry clothing on. Seniors who are incontinent will have help getting to the bathroom and cleaning up. Homecare will ensure they are always dry and fresh.

The Sun

The sun’s rays always damage the thin skin of seniors. It doesn’t matter whether it’s summer or winter, seniors should wear layers of clothing to avoid exposing their arms and legs to the sun. They should also wear sunscreen on their faces and hands, even in the winter. In the winter, if there is snow, the sun can actually be even more damaging, because the UV rays of the sun bounce off the snow. It’s also smart for seniors to wear sunglasses and hats if they’re going to be outside in the sun.

Hot Showers

Nothing will dry the skin faster than a hot shower. Even though hot showers can feel great, they are bad for the skin, especially the skin of seniors, which tends to be thinner and more delicate as seniors get older. Warm showers are best for seniors, and seniors should moisturize with a good quality lotion or body oil right after their shower.

Dry Indoor Air

Spending time indoors can lead to dry skin for seniors. Especially in the cool weather, being indoors when the heat is on and the house is shut up can be tough on skin. Seniors may develop dry, cracked skin that can be painful if they’re not actively trying to avoid dry indoor air. Humidifiers are the best thing seniors can use to fight dry indoor air. But house plants can also prevent dry and stale indoor air. House plants can actually clean the air by using stale air as fuel and putting out fresh oxygen in return. Plants also make any home more cheerful and inviting.