As you age, your skin grows thinner, more delicate and less able to protect and rejuvenate itself. Because sun damage is the greatest threat to human skin, people with sensitive, elderly skin must take diligent precautions to avoid as much as sun exposure as possible. While several methods and cosmetic products are effective, no single protectant is 100 percent successful in warding off ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a known carcinogen. Combine skin care tools and techniques to protect your mature skin from the sun.
Avoid Tanning and Sunburn
Use a sun shade or beach umbrella at the pool or shore. Sunbathing is not a good idea for mature skin that has already sustained a lifetime of damage from the sun's UV rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that tanning and sunburn increase your risk for skin cancer.
Favor Shade Over Sun
Whether you're at home or out walking, prevent sun damage to elderly skin by seeking out shady corridors or porches, especially during the hottest part of the day. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that the sun's rays are strongest in North America between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Wear Sunscreen Every Day
The AAD calls sunscreen the most powerful skin care product you can use to protect aging skin. Dermatologists there recommend that you apply an SPF 30 formula to exposed skin daily, whether you'll be indoors or out. Sunscreen of this strength is scientifically proven to absorb 97 percent of harmful UV rays, which are able to pass through clouds and glass. Reapply sunscreen after sweating or showering.
Moisturize
Keep skin moist with a lotion or cream. Elderly skin is already prone to dryness, which sun damage and hot temperatures can exacerbate. The Skin Sciences Institute relates that the moisture barrier created by applying a skin care cream or lotion prevents water loss from the epidermis.
Wear Protective Clothes
Long-sleeved pants and shirts create excellent, inexpensive sun protection for elderly skin. Clothing with a tight weave offers substantial, reusable body coverage, unlike sunscreens that wash off and must be replenished. The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests using specially designed UV hats and clothing that provide extra sun safety for times when you wish to be outdoors.
Use Protective Accessories
Fabrics and films that block UV radiation are also used to make umbrellas, sunglasses, window shades and car window tints. Shield your sensitive skin from sun damage with these these items that are endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
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