Seniors are more susceptible to skin disease and infection because of the many changes their skin undergoes as they age. Aging challenges can manifest in the form of less supple, drier, and thinner skin. An elderly individual’s skin gets wounded more easily and recovers slowly.
Lowenhill Home Care Services is committed to delivering top-notch, holistic care that addresses every single one of your senior loved one’s unique needs at home. We provide you this short guide on skin care to comprehensively prepare for the impact that aging can have on a senior’s skin. This guide will also help you prevent and navigate the many skin issues that could stand in the way of a high quality of life for the people you love.
Skin Conditions Typical of the Senior Population
- Viral skin disorders. Your senior loved ones could start to experience herpes zoster and shingles.
- Stasis and Exfoliative Dermatitis. Stasis Dermatitis, which is more common in senior women than it is in men, is characterized by dry and itchy skin. Exfoliative Dermatitis, on the other hand, is a much more severe version of dermatitis that results in heavy shedding and peeling of the skin. What’s even more dangerous about the latter is that it could greatly increase the chances of a skin infection developing.
- Skin infections. Scabies and ringworms are common in seniors who do not have a regular skin care regimen. Maintaining a healthy and holistic skin care routine helps prevent these bacterial infections and parasitic infestations from taking place.
- Senile Purpura. When an elderly individual’s skin becomes too thin, purplish spots start to appear all over their bodies, most notably on the legs and arms. Senile Purpura can also be attributed to the weakening blood vessels and capillaries of an elder person.
To navigate these skin issues, seniors and their families need to take the following steps:
- Use mild soaps and moisturizers.
- Avoid showering frequently or taking hot baths.
- Frequently turning seniors who are bed-ridden in order to prevent bed sores from developing.
Seniors must also practice the following to promote great skin health:
- Using the right sunblock whenever they plan to go out.
- Hanging up those cigarettes, otherwise known as cancer sticks.
- Regularly hydrating or drinking water.
- Avoiding hot and dry environments.
Lowenhill Home Care Services is all about helping seniors achieve the ideal skin care routine that keeps their skin feeling and looking great even at their age. Plus, we also know how important a proper skin care regimen is to their overall health and well-being.
What other skin care routines do your senior loved one’s practice? Please feel free to share them in the comment section.
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