During COVID, many of my meetings with drug company reps and other
office business meetings were on ZOOM. There is nothing like a closeup
ZOOM call to make all your lower face wrinkles and skin imperfections
show up like magic. I really started noticing the changes to my skin from
aging then and started trying to be more proactive with my sun protection
and skin care. It is not just an aesthetic thing, it is medically important as
well. One in 5 Americans will have skin cancer at some point in their lives,
and 20 Americans die of melanoma every day.
Our skin is the largest organ in our body and it performs some very
important functions. It contains nerve fibers that allow you to feel touch,
pain and pressure. It helps control fluid and electrolyte balance. It helps
control body temperature and protects your body from elements of the
environment. It also affects how we look.
Your skin is made up of three layers. The epidermis, dermis and
subcutaneous tissue.

The epidermis contains skin cells, pigments and
proteins. The middle layer, or dermis contains skin cells, blood vessels,
nerves, hair follicles and oil glands, The subcutaneous tissue, or inner
layer, contains sweat glands, hair follicles and blood vessels. Each of these
layers has connective tissue with collagen fibers for support and elastin
fibers for elasticity and strength.
Some factors that cause changes in our skin as we age include:
Sun exposure and other environmental factors
Decrease in Estrogen and other hormones
Nutrition
Smoking
Stress
Gravity
Heredity
Lifestyle
Personal habits, even sleep position
Some of the changes we may notice with aging:
Rougher texture
Developing lesions
Increasing transparency caused by thinning of the epidermis
It becomes more fragile with flattening of the dermis and epidermis
Lack of elasticity, increased slackness
Easier bruising due to thinning of the blood vessel walls
Loss of fat pads in the cheeks, bone loss around the mouth and loss
of cartilage in the nose causing a more “skeletal appearance.”
Dryness and itching with decrease production from oil glands
What to do about it?
Many women in my age group (60’s) were sun babies. We did not know
back then what damage the sun could do to our skin, and we really didn’t
have sunscreen. If I got burned being in the pool from daylight until dusk,
my Dad put a T shirt and a Gilligan’s Island hat on me and rubbed some
Zinc Oxide on my nose. We stayed out until we fried and did things like sit
in the sun with baby oil and iodine on. We burned until we finally tanned.
Today, we know better.
We know that there are 2 main types of UV (ultraviolet) radiation from the
sun that damage our skin, these are UVA and UVB rays. They are different
in strength, and in how deeply they enter the different layers of your skin.
UVA rays make up 95% of UV radiation that reaches the earth and can
penetrate the dermis of the skin (beneath the surface) and you cannot feel
it burning. UVA rays are linked to skin aging because they go deeper into
the skin. UVB rays have more energy than UVA rays but cannot penetrate
as deeply. They only reach the epidermis (outer layer) and cause sunburn.
Both types can cause skin cancer.
It is important to choose a sunscreen that is “broad spectrum” and can
block both types of these UV rays. It needs to be at the very least 30 SPF,
higher is preferable, and water resistant. A barrier sunscreen made with
zinc and/or titanium oxide will sit on the skin, forming a barrier against UV
penetration. A chemical sunscreen absorbs the UV rays and prevents
penetration.
The brands that I regularly use and carry in my spa are Skin Better and Obagi. I also love Isdin PHOTO Eryfotona Actinica brand sunscreen. These products are broad spectrum and water resistant, feel light on my skin and don’t break me out. You can get more information or order the Skin Better and Obagi through our online link at Foothillscenterforwomen.com in the Spa and Aesthetics section. The Isdin can be ordered online through this Amazon link https://amzn.to/3JBSd7P.
One of the most important things that we can do for our skin is to make sun
protection a lifelong habit! Wearing high-quality sunscreen and clothes that
protect us from the sun are extremely important for skin appearance and
health.
Sun protective clothing is given a rating with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor. This is the rating given to clothing for the broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. A UPF rating of 50+ blocks 98-100% of UVA radiation, so as far a sun protective clothing goes, more is better. Since I have a pool and we like to travel to beachy locations, I like to wear bathing suit cover ups with sleeves and a UPF of at least 50+. The ones that feel the best are those that dry fast and are cool on the skin. My favorites are made by Coolibar and can be found on the resource page of this website.
Good nutrition and drinking plenty of fluids are also vital to help your skin
look younger. The Mediterranean Diet can be a good choice for women
over 50. This is a healthy diet which is high in healthy fats and lean
proteins. It is low in processed foods and simple carbs. The diet favors
fresh produce, including fruits and vegetables. Plenty of water is
encouraged and alcohol is allowed in moderate proportions only.
Using a good moisturizer and staying away from drying soap and washes
can keep skin looking more supple.
Smoking is bad for many reasons and people who smoke will usually have
more wrinkles than non- smokers.
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