It covers about 22 square feet, weighing around 8 pounds in adults. It's made up of many components, including water, protein, lipids, minerals, and chemicals, and its texture and thickness can vary from one part of the body to another.
As we all know, our skin changes a lot as we age! Mine is thinner and wrinklier and much dryer than it used to be. Things we can do to help:
Hydrate
Hydrate your entire body by drinking 8 glasses of water daily is great way to moisturize your skin. Water also clears out the dangerous toxins that hurt your skin. The antioxidative properties of vitamin C can effectively prevent thinning skin and slow its progression.
Moisturize
Use a moisturizing cream (my dermatologist suggested Vanicream, CeraVe, or Cetaphil) to coat the skin with a protective barrier and prevent dryness and damage. Some moisturizers are formulated specifically for aging skin. I put on Nivea Cocoa Butter after my shower while skin is still moist)
Cleanse
Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:
Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
Some dermatologists recommend showering every other day or two to three times a week. Over-bathing may disrupt the balance of microorganisms on the skin, which can compromise the immune system and make it less prepared for future infections.
Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers. (Dove sensitive skin)
Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it. (I switched to an electric razor a few years ago)
Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin. (That’s when I use the cocoa butter!)
The worst part of aging skin is all the things that seem to grow on it …
Liver spots
These harmless but unflattering spots are flat, brown or black spots that can appear on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun. (My hands and my face) They have nothing to do with the liver or liver function. Lentigos, sometimes called age spots or freckles, are a result of cumulative damage to the skin by sunlight.
Seborrheic keratoses (also known as barnacles)
These noncancerous, wart-like growths can be brown, black, or light tan, and appear waxy or scaly. They can grow anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face, neck, chest, or back.
They usually start to appear after age 45, and it's not unusual to have one or a few, to a hundred of them.
They are usually painless unless irritated by scratching or rubbing, especially under tight clothing. Treatment is usually not needed, but freezing with liquid nitrogen or surgery can be used if they are irritated or for cosmetic reasons.
Skin tags
These small, flesh-colored growths with a raised surface are most common on the eyelids, neck, and body folds, but can appear anywhere on the body. They become more common as people age, especially for women.
Actinic keratoses
These pinkish rough patches have a small chance of becoming skin cancer. Skin cancers are also common in older people, and are usually located in sun-exposed areas.
Cherry hemangiomas
These tiny, bright red spots or bumps on the skin are usually harmless, but you might want to tell your doctor if one turns dark brown or black. You might start seeing them in your 30s and 40s, and get more of them as you age. Treatment usually isn't needed unless they're irritated or bleeding
Of course, there are other conditions as well. Be sure to get an annual exam by a dermatologist. Things I notice and point out to him are always NOTHING but others that I pay no attention to he usually needs to freeze them away.
Get a vat of coconut oil and submerge every morning!
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