Aging can cause a lot of skin changes. Skin can become thinner, drier, less resilient, less efficient in heat exchange, and discolored. The usual change we spot is the appearance of wrinkles. These are results of the change in the matrix of the collagen in the skin. While these are natural aging processes, some older people can develop skin disorders that may turn into serious medical problems.
Our home care services in Philadelphia can address these skin problems with competent and professional caregivers. It is a known fact that older skin is less oily, less elastic, and thinner. It bruises easily and can take a longer time to heal when cut. Thus, older people will have to give their skin more care than it needed when they were younger.
The caregivers in our home care agency can help seniors take good care of their skin by reminding them to use sunscreen before going outdoors even if the weather is fine. Sunscreen protects the skin against most kinds of skin cancer. Our caregivers can also help you buy the right sunscreen – a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Sunscreen or sunblock needs to be reapplied after 3 to 4 hours and more often if the person is sweating or swimming. Skin care in seniors must be included in their long term care program.
If you care for a senior family member, be sure to encourage good skin care, be on the alert for skin cancers, and call for professional help when needed. You may also call our home care in Philadelphia – Home Care of Philadelphia – for assistance!