Tips For Healthy Skin

The following tips will help maintain healthier skin:

• Bathing – Adjust the water temperature when
showering or bathing so it is warm, rather than hot.
Mild bar or liquid soaps, with built-in moisturizers,
should be used when possible. Excessive bathing can
lead to dry skin. In the winter, unless physical exercise
has led to sweating, older adults can bathe every
second or third day. It is important to shower after
swimming in a chlorinated pool.

• Moisturizers – Apply skin lotion to the entire body
after toweling off. Inexpensive, basic moisturizing
lotions generally are as effective as more expensive
ones. Gentle, fragrance-free lotions are available for
sensitive skin.


• Fluids – Make certain to drink plenty of water daily.

• Sun Protection – Many skin problems are the result of
sun damage. Always wear a sunscreen with a Sun
Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 when going
outdoors. Consider looking for a body lotion with a
built-in sunscreen. Always wear a wide-brimmed hat
and sunglasses when outdoors.

• Moisture in the Home – Air in a home can become
especially dry in the winter months when furnaces are
running and humidity outdoors is generally low.
Running a humidifier can help maintain moisture in the
home.

•Warning Signs – Make an appointment with a family
physician if skin is excessively dry, flaky and itchy.
Also talk to a doctor about moles that change in
appearance, skin infections or rashes, skin growths or
changes in skin color.