15 Tips for Easy Midlife Skincare

Our skin is our largest organ and it is our first layer of defense against things in our world that can harm us.  It is important to take good care of our skin to ensure it continues to protect us as we age.  I’ve been a Skin & Wound Consultant Nurse for many years and have learned a lot about how to keep our skin healthy and these are 15 Tips for Easy Midlife Skincare that I use myself to keep my own skin healthy.

Our skin protects us by providing a barrier from viruses, bacteria and other possible environmental hazards that can be dangerous for our health.  The nerve endings in our skin help protect us by alerting us when something is too hot, cold, or sharp so we can pull away.

Our skin also helps to control our body temperature and maintains our fluid balance with the sweat glands, oil glands and blood vessels within it.  And, it also helps to make essential vitamin D when the sun shines on us.

Skin can also give us very important clues to our overall health.  As a nurse I’ve learned to look at people’s skin to help understand their health issues.  Itching, redness, swelling, and rashes can indicate allergies or infections, and can also be a warning sign for chronic or acute conditions.  Changes in colour of the skin can indicate such conditions as anemia, venous stasis and liver disease.  Moles and other discolorations of the skin can lead to cancers.  And changes in the texture of the skin can also indicate underlying health issues.

Be aware of any unexpected changes to your skin and talk with your healthcare professional if you have any concerns.

Please note that while I am a registered nurse, I am not your nurse and my opinions in this post do not constitute or replace medical advice.  Please discuss any questions or concerns with your dermatologist, physician or health care provider.   Also, see my disclaimer here for more information.

 

15 Tips for Easy Midlife Skincare

 

1. Wear sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy.  The number one reason our skin shows signs of aging faster than it should and can contribute to skin breakdown is from exposure to UVA/UVB rays.  Sun damage also contributes to skin cancer!  Use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and broad-spectrum coverage for UVA/UVB rays.  Consider products with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as they are effective and less likely to cause skin sensitivities.
2. Increase your fluid intake. This moisturizes the tissues from the inside out and improves the health of your skin.  Aim to drink at least 2 litres (8 cups) of water a day.  This helps increase tissue perfusion, remove toxins from the tissues, and helps improve production of collagen and elastin to keep your skin healthy and strong.  I like to add fruit to my water to add a bit of flavour.  My favourite is mint and lime- reminds me of a Mojito 😉
3. Eat a healthy diet that is filled with antioxidants, whole & fresh foods, and healthy fats.  Antioxidants help neutralize the damage from free radicals in the body.  Free radicals are molecules that are created from the effects of UV light, chemicals, pollution and other sources.  If left unchecked they can contribute to inflammation in the body and cause premature aging, decreased skin strength and elasticity and even chronic disease and some cancers.  Healthy fats such as avocado and olive oil help to keep our skin moisture intact.  For more information on antioxidants and healthy fats see my post on Healthy Eating at Midlife.  Healthy skin definitely starts from the inside.
4. Decrease your sugar and simple carbohydrate intake.  Simple carbs convert to sugars quickly in the body and sugar in the body can cause inflammation.  That inflammation can cause skin breakouts, dull-looking skin and premature aging.  Sugar also activates the production of free-radicals which can also contribute to wrinkles and can eventually promote cancer formation.
5. Get enough sleep – at least 7+ hours per day, if able.  This enables our body to function to the best of its ability, including our skin!  If you have difficulty with getting enough sleep, see my post on Ways to Sleep Better at Midlife.
6. Exercise!  It increases blood flow to our tissues which delivers oxygen and nutrients to keep our skin healthy and strong.  And it encourages a healthy glow!
7. Decrease your stress levels as much as you can.  Stress increases the production of Cortisol- the stress hormone.  Cortisol helps to contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, leading to the skin’s strength and elasticity decreasing.  Stress also contributes to increased inflammation in the body which can contribute to skin redness, breakouts, and other issues.  See my posts on Mindfulness here and here which can help you with decreasing your stress levels.
8. Don’t smoke or stop smoking if you can.  Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and underlying tissues, releases free radicals, which causes premature aging of the skin and decreased resistance to injury and stressors.
9. Decrease your alcohol intake as well.  Alcohol is very dehydrating to our body and skin.
10. If you live in a dry climate, consider using a humidifier to increase the air moisture in your home.  You may also need to consider using a thicker moisturizer as well, if the air is very dry.  I always find that I must use a thicker moisturize in the winter, when the air is drier here in Canada.  Although this summer has been extremely dry as well- and I’ve had to adapt my skin care routine because of it.
11. Consider exfoliating your skin (face and body) to slough off the old skin cells.  This allows your skin care products to absorb better into your skin.  Most experts recommend exfoliating 1- 3 times per week.  Be careful not to over-exfoliate as it can harm the outer layer of the skin.  The frequency of exfoliation should be determined by the type of skin you have as well as the exfoliant you are using.  Exfoliation can involve using physical exfoliators such as products with abrasive substances in/on them, or chemical exfoliants such as enzymes or mild acids.
12. Avoid products with fragrances that may cause sensitivities, which can cause skin breakdown.  And use caution with products that are labelled “unscented” as they may still contain a masking fragrance.  Also, read the ingredients in your skincare products and research whether they are safe to use.  I use two apps for helping me research whether my skin care products and cosmetics are safe.  They are EWG Healthy Living and Think Dirty.
13. Avoid products with alcohol in them- these are very drying and can be irritating to the skin.
14. Use a gentle skin cleanser, cleanse your face twice a day and always take your makeup off at night.  Cleansing our skin removes oil, dirt, dead skin cells and chemicals/toxins that  have come onto our face and also balances the pH, which is important for healthy, radiant skin.  Use an eye makeup remover to remove the makeup around your eyes.  The skin around our eyes is very delicate and rubbing too briskly can damage to the underlying tissues, lead to wrinkles, and even cause skin breakdown.  I like to keep makeup wipes in my bedside table as well as a moisturizer for those nights that I’m just too tired to do a complete cleansing/moisturizing routine.
15. Moisturize your skin after cleansing and/or showering and bathing.  At least once daily, but ideally twice daily.  Your whole body too!  I love using moisturizers/serums with antioxidants in them to help neutralize those free radicals and improve the radiance of my skin.

 

I hope these 15 Tips for Easy Midlife Skincare have helped you learn how to take good care of your skin, so your skin can keep taking good care of you!

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Take care,

 

 

 

Resources:

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