Skin Disorders and Aging

By Jane Farrell

Your skin changes with age. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. Your veins and bones can be seen more easily. Scratches, cuts, or bumps can take longer to heal. Years of sun tanning or being out in the sunlight for a long time may lead to wrinkles, dryness, age spots, and even cancer. But there are things you can do to protect your skin and to make it feel and look better. Here are tips from the National Institute on Aging:

Dry Skin And Itching

 Many older people suffer from dry skin, often on their lower legs, elbows, and lower arms. There are many possible reasons for dry skin, such as  not drinking enough liquids, staying out in the sun, being in very dry air, smoking, stress, or losing sweat and oil glands (common with age.)

Dry skin also can be caused by health problems, such as diabetes or kidney disease. Using too much soap, antiperspirant or perfume and taking hot baths will make dry skin worse.

Because older people have thinner skin, scratching can cause bleeding that may lead to infection. Some medicines make the skin itchier. If your skin is very dry and itchy, see your doctor. Moisturizers like lotions, creams, or ointments can soothe dry, itchy skin. They should be used every day. Try taking fewer baths and using milder soap. Warm water is less drying than hot water. Don’t add bath oil to your water—it will make the tub too slippery. Some people find that a humidifier (an appliance that adds moisture to a room) helps.

Bruises

 Older people may bruise more easily than younger people. And it can take longer for the bruises to heal Some medicines or illnesses may cause bruising. If you see bruises and you don’t know how you got them, especially on parts of your body usually covered by clothing, see your doctor.

Some medicines or illnesses may cause bruising. If you see bruises and you don’t know how you got them, especially on parts of your body usually covered by clothing, see your doctor.

Wrinkles

 Over time, skin begins to wrinkle. Elements in the environment, like ultra- violet (UV) light from the sun, make the skin less elastic. Gravity can cause skin to sag and wrinkle.  Certain habits also can wrinkle your skin. Some of these habits are easier to change than others. You may not be able to change your facial expressions, but you can quit smoking.

 A lot of claims are made about how to make wrinkles go away. Not all of them work. Some can be painful or even dangerous, and many must be done by a doctor. Talk with a doctor specially trained in skin problems (a dermatologist) or your regular doctor if you are worried about wrinkles.

Age Spots and Skin Tags

 Age spots, once called “liver spots,” are flat, brown spots often caused by years in the sun. They are bigger than freckles, and many times show up on areas like the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. Age spots are harmless, but if they bother you, talk to a dermatologist about removing them. Also, a sunscreen or sunblock may prevent more sun damage.

Skin tags are small, usually flesh-colored growths that have a raised surface. They are a common occurrence as people age, especially for women. They are most often found on the eyelids, neck, and body folds such as the arm pit, chest, and groin.  A doctor can remove them if they bother you.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. The main cause of skin cancer is the sun. Sunlamps and tanning booths can also cause skin cancer. Anyone can get cancer, but people with fair skin that freckles are at greatest risk. Skin cancer may be cured if it is found before it spreads to other parts of the body.

There are three types of skin cancers. Two types, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. These types of cancer are found mostly on parts of the skin exposed to the sun like the head, face, neck, hands, and arms, but can happen anywhere on your body. The third and most dangerous type of skin cancer is melanoma. It is rarer than the other types, but can spread to other organs and be deadly.

 Check your skin once a month for things that may be cancer. Skin cancer is rarely painful. Look for changes such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a bleeding mole. Check moles, birthmarks, or other parts of the skin for the “ABCDE’s.” ABCDE stands for:

Asymmetry (one half of the growth looks different from the other half)

*Borders that are irregular

*Color changes or more than one color

*Diameter greater than the size of a pencil eraser

*Evolving; this means the growth changes in size, shape, symptoms (itching, tenderness), surface (especially bleeding), or shades of color.

See your doctor right away if you have any of these signs.

Keep Your Skin Healthy

Some sun can be good for you, but be careful.

*Limit time in the sun. Try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the sun’s rays are strongest. Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies. The sun’s rays can go through clouds. You can also get sunburned if you are in water, so be careful when you are in a pool, lake, or the ocean.

*Use sunscreen. Look for a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) number of 15 or higher. It’s best to choose sunscreen with “broad spectrum” on the label. Put the sunscreen on 15-30 minutes before you go outside. Sunscreen should be reapplied about every 2 hours. You need to put sunscreen on more often if you are swimming, sweating, or rubbing your skin with a towel.

*Wear protective clothing. A hat with a wide brim can shade your neck, ears, eyes, and head. Look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays. If you have to be in the sun, wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts.

*Avoid tanning. Don’t use sunlamps or tanning beds. Tanning pills are not approved by the FDA and might not be safe.

If you find any changes that worry you, see your doctor.

For more on senior health, visit nia.nih.gov.