Is it just me or does my body seem to be revolting and totally changing with age? When I think I have things under control, think again! I used to have sensitive and “normal” skin, but it has been on the dry side for the past several years. Turns out this thing called aging wreaks havoc on our hair and skin. So, what is the connection between mature and dry skin?
I had a hysterectomy back in my 40’s so I had no idea when I went through menopause. Turns out that I had, and my body had stopped producing any hormones. So, I finally had a doctor that ran more labs than just the ones to see if I had gone through menopause. I was not producing any Estrogen, Progesterone, or Testosterone. I wasn’t sleeping at night, was having hot flashes, no energy at all, and my doctor really didn’t know how I was functioning at all. HRT is controversial but when you aren’t producing any hormones at all you need a little help! So, if you aren’t sure you might want to talk to your doctor about checking your levels.
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What Causes Dry Skin As You Age?
I think we are all aware that as we age our skin starts to get fine lines and wrinkles. If you missed the blog post I did the other week, What’s Considered Mature Skin. You can read that here. But our body starts producing fewer natural oils, sun damage, and decreased cell renewal all contribute to dry, rough, dull skin.
As we age our body either stops producing Estrogen or slows down production. But why is it so important to our skin as we age? As it slows down it also slows down the production of your body’s oil production and it also reduces the body’s ability to keep moisture. Estrogen also stimulates the formation of collagen. Which helps your skin to look full, and plump, and keeps it from sagging.
If you think you might have decreased hormone levels, contact your doctor!
What Can I Do To Help My Dry Skin?
Moisturize & Have a Good Skincare Routine
Start with reevaluating your skin type. You might have a different skin type than you did when you were younger. Just because you always had oily skin doesn’t mean you still do. Using the correct skincare products plays a huge role in the results of your products. If you aren’t sure check out my post, What is Your Skin Type? You can read that here. Our entire body needs to be moisturized, the best time is right when you get out of the shower. Lock in the moisture. Don’t forget your neck and upper chest area. This area is often forgotten by women.
Hydrate
Staying hydrated will help keep your skin from becoming dehydrated and dry. Our body is made up of about 50-70% water. So, staying hydrated is important. Experts recommend that you drink half your body weight in ounces.
Turn Down The Water Temperature
I know that taking a hot shower or bath feels so good, but it can dry your skin out further. Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils. And since our mature skin is already starting to lack some of its natural oils let’s not help it out any! Just turn down the temperature a little.
Use Sunscreen
Experts recommend using sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15. It is also recommended that you use daily sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s rays. Even a little bit of time driving in our cars and walking in and out of the house can have an effect on our skin’s health. They have found over 50% of skin cancer is on the left side of the body. They believe this is due to us driving and being exposed to the sun’s rays.
So, wear daily sunscreen and even better throw on a wide-brim sun hat if you are going to be out in the sun for a longer period of time. My favorite daily sunscreen is Sun Veil. You can find it here.
Getting older isn’t all bad, we are much wiser than when we were younger! Lol. Now that we know that with aging and mature skin comes dry skin due to the slowing of oil production, we can start replacing it. Hydrating and moisturizing our skin will help to keep it looking good. Have you noticed a change in your skin with age? Please share in the comments below.
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