Beauty good enough to eat-Dry skin in older years

Dry skin in the older years

As many as 75 percent of people over 65 have dry skin.

Having worked as beauty therapist and make- up artist for many years I can definitely vouch that your skin lets you get away with nothing and as the largest organ in the body we need to treat it with the care it deserves.

One of the annoying facts of winter is often the onset of dry skin. Having problems with dry skin can be really uncomfortable your skin feels tight, even painful, and it can look red, blotchy and flaky. It can sometimes itch, making you want to scratch and then open to infection. Skin is made up of layers with a thin layer of fat which keeps it moist and smooth. Dry, cold air, harsh soaps, chlorinated water and certain cosmetics can strip away these fatty oils, leaving the skin unprotected. However the causes can often be internal such as a genetic predisposition or other medical conditions, including diabetes, psoriasis, hypothyroidism or malnutrition. If untreated, dry skin can lead to dermatitis.

When the dryness comes from within it is usually when the skin is dehydrated the difference from lack of oil is if you think about the difference between the oil when cooking chips or lack of water(dehydration) is like the steam from the kettle.

Dehydration is lack of water and comes from within, it is important to stay hydrated, however, drinking excess water will not help. The causes for dry dehydrated skin come from the body being under par maybe unwell or recovering from illness, tiredness, excess alcohol, excess smoking, poor diet, medication and change in hormones. Certain medications can impact the health of your skin as well. Drugs for high blood pressure can have diuretic side effects. Flying especially long hall is also a big culprit. Diuretic drinks like tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages promote drying of the skin.

Age is a huge factor for dry skin problems and can especially plague older women because of hormonal changes and older men and women higher risk of use of medication and often sitting in the warm dry heated conditions.

So what can we do about it?

Most of the solutions will be useful for anyone not just older women as one thing for certain we are all constantly ageing.

·         Limit your time in hot showers/baths  as prolonged exposure to water, especially hot water, can wash away the natural oils that protect your skin.

·         Drink at least 7-8 glasses of water a day

·         Use an aqueous cream to wash instead of soap

·         Avoid harsh chemicals on your skin or in your diet (e. numbers)

·         Vitamin E oil (great for anti -ageing)

Wrinkles

Wrinkles form quicker on a dry skin as oil keeps the skin supple, however they eventually come to to us all from age,. Wrinkles also come from free radical damage, improper skin care and poor habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol in excess. the most effective treatment externally is vitamin E oil as it prevents the formation of wrinkles by blocking free radical damage. It treats wrinkles by boosting collagen production, a connective tissue that keeps skin elastic. Vitamin E oil also treats wrinkles by supporting new skin cell growth and speeding up cell regeneration and helping to keep the skin moisturised and supple.

·         Use a humidifier in our home

·         Limit alcohol

·         Moisturise morning and night

·         7-8 hours sleep

·         Good diet and exercise

Foods that can help combat dry and dehydrated skin from within

·         Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids offer great benefits for your skin, too. They are richly present in cold-water fish like salmon, tuna and trout. If you are not much of a fish eater, you can substitute with flaxseed oil, avocado and walnuts.

·         Vitamin C throughout the winter months. Besides strengthening your immune system, vitamin C is essential for the formation of collagen in the body. Collagen allows the skin to absorb moisture.

·         Vitamin A found in dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, can help to repair skin damage. Foods rich in carotene – carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and pumpkin – are also useful in this regard.

·         Vitamin E does not only boost the healing of skin tissue but also enhances moisturizing and bolsters defence against UV damage. Good sources for vitamin E include nuts, seeds, avocado, wheat germ, flaxseed oil and broccoli.

·         Zinc: shell fish, crab, lean turkey, beef and beans, Zinc is a mineral that is especially useful for healing wounds and cracked skin

check out my website www.karenlockyer.net for healthy eating and make up for brides and individuals.