Aging & Summer Skin Care: Top 7 Tips for Protecting Your Skin

Many older adults grew up in a time when baby oil and iodine were used as a part of a summer sun regime. That puts them at higher risk for sun damage including skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Over the past three decades, more people have been diagnosed with skin cancer than all other forms of cancer combined.

So as we head in to sunnier days, we advise caregivers to review the best ways for keeping their skin safe during the dog days of summer with their older loved ones.

Here are our Top 7 Tips for Summer Skin & Sun Protection:

1. Always wear sunscreen. Reapply it several times a day if you are outdoors. Check the sunscreen label to be sure, but most advise reapplying every four hours. More often if you are in and out of the water.
2. Because skin becomes thinner as we age, moisturizers are also important. After a day outdoors, be sure to moisturize your skin.
3. Avoid the times of day when the sun is the hottest. Try to work in your yard early in the morning or later in the evening. That will help protect your skin from the most intense rays of the sun.
4. Wear a hat. A hat helps not only keep your body cooler, but to keep the sun off your face and prevent sunburn. If you get the right hat you can also protect the back of your neck.
5. Wear protective clothing. Long sleeves and pants offer older, thinner skin more protection. There are even clothing lines that have UV protection in the fabric.
6. Sunglasses are a must. Especially during the hottest parts of the day. Look for those that offer “UV protection” and not just dark lenses. Experts advise looking for labels that say “UV 400”. If you have cataracts or have had cataract surgery or you have macular degeneration, you might want to consider wraparound sunglasses for side protection.
7. Our final word of summer sun caution… Read the labels or ask your pharmacist if any of your prescriptions make you more sun sensitive. Some prescriptions – and even some over the counter medicines – make you more sensitive to the sun’s rays. That means you may burn and even blister faster.

Are you a summer ‘sun worshipper’? How do you protect your skin from the summer sun?