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Skin
Care and Aging
Americans spend billions
of dollars each year on "wrinkle" creams, bleaching
products to lighten age spots, and skin lotions to keep skin
looking smooth and healthy. But the simplest and cheapest way
to keep your skin healthier and younger looking is to stay out
of the sun.
Sunlight is a major
cause of skin changes we think of as aging--changes like wrinkling,
looseness, leathery-dryness, blotchiness, various growths, yellowing,
or pebbly texture. Still, one-third of all adults sunbathe even
though they know that sunlight can hurt their skin.
Your skin does change
with age--for example, you sweat less and your skin can take
longer to heal. You can delay these changes by staying out of
the sun.
Sun Damage
Over time, the sun’s
ultraviolet (UV) light hurts the fibers in the skin called elastin.
The breakdown of these fibers causes the skin to sag, stretch,
and lose its ability to snap back after stretching. The skin
also bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal.
So while sun damage may not show when you’re young, it will
later in life.
Nothing can completely
undo sun damage, although the skin can sometimes repair itself.
So, it’s never too late to begin protecting yourself from the
sun.
Smoking
People who smoke
tend to have more wrinkles than nonsmokers of the same age,
complexion, and history of sun exposure. The reason for this
difference is unclear. It may be because smoking interferes
with normal blood flow in the skin.
Skin Cancer
Sun damage also causes
skin cancer. The chance of developing skin cancer increases
as people age, especially for those who live in sunny areas
of the country. There are three types of common skin cancers:
- Basal cell
carcinomas are the most common. They almost never spread
to other vital organs, but should be removed since they will
get bigger and can affect areas that are nearby.
- Squamous cell
carcinomas are less common but are potentially more harmful
because they can grow quickly and spread to other organs.
- Malignant melanomas
are the most dangerous of all the skin cancers because they
may spread to other organs and when they do, they are often
fatal.
Finding any cancer
early and treating it quickly is important, especially in the
case of melanoma. The best defense against skin cancer is paying
attention to the warning signs. If there is a sudden change
in the look of a mole or a new spot, see a doctor. Look for
differences in color, size, shape, or surface quality (scaliness,
oozing, crusting, or bleeding). Have a doctor check any dark
colored spots.
Dry Skin and Itching
Dry skin is common
in later life. About 85 percent of older people develop "winter
itch," because overheated indoor air is dry. The loss of
sweat and oil glands as we age may also worsen dry skin. Anything
that further dries the skin (such as overuse of soaps, antiperspirants,
perfumes, or hot baths) will make the problem worse.
Dry skin itches because
it is irritated easily. If your skin is very dry and itchy,
see a doctor because this condition can affect your sleep, cause
irritability, or be a symptom of a disease. For example, diabetes
and kidney disease can cause itching. Some medicines make the
itchiness worse.
Maintaining Healthy
Skin
The best way to keep
skin healthy is to avoid sun exposure beginning early in life.
Here are some other tips:
- Do not sunbathe
or visit tanning parlors and try to stay out of the sun between
10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- If you are in
the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. always wear protective
clothing--such as a hat, long-sleeved shirt, and sunglasses.
- Put on sunscreen
lotion before going out in the sun to help protect your skin
from UV light. Remember to reapply the lotion as needed. Always
use products that are SPF (sun protection factor) 15 or higher.
- Check your skin
often for signs of skin cancer. If there are changes that
worry you, call the doctor right away. The American Academy
of Dermatology suggests that older, fair-skinned people have
a yearly skin check by a doctor as part of a regular physical
check-up.
- Relieve dry skin
problems by using a humidifier at home, bathing with soap
less often, and using a moisturizing lotion. If this doesn’t
work, see your doctor.
Resources
For more information
about skin, contact:
National Institute
of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675 301-495-4484
National Cancer Institute
(NCI)
9000 Rockville Pike
Building 31, Room 10A24
Bethesda, MD 20892
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
The American Academy
of Dermatology (AAD)
930 North Meacham Road
Schaumburg, IL 606173-4965
847-330-0230
The Skin Cancer Foundation
245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2402
New York, NY 10016
1-800-SKIN-490 (1-800-754-6490)
For a list of free
publications from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), contact:
NIA Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225
(1-800-224-4225 TTY)
E-mail: niainfo@access.digex.net
National
Institute on Aging
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
1996
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