Dry skin in seniors: Soap for skin

Dry skin is a common problem of peopleof all ages and most individuals do their best to obtain all thenecessary cosmetic products for keeping the health levels of thislargest body organ as high as possible, combating the redness,flaking, irritation and many other, similar problems.

However, the elderly seem to have mostproblems related to the health of their skin. Therefore, thefollowing lines are dedicated to solving these, offering the bestpossible solutions every senior can opt for.

Dry Skin Problems

Many people blame numerous factors fortheir dry or unhealthy skin, claiming that genetics, cosmetics andcountless other states of affairs are responsible for the redness,the flaking, the wrinkles appearing on their faces, arms, legs andother body parts.

However, the main trigger of thesenegative changes which affect the skin is the exposure to the harmfulsun rays. Even though we are not aware of it, all the time we spendunprotected, exposed to the sun, takes its toll on our skin, leadingto the formation of wrinkles and countless other skin issues, some ofwhich can be very dangerous or even life-threatening, like skincancer, for example.

The ultraviolet rays of the sun harmthe skin by drying it excessively and damaging the fibers in it. Theresults in a decrease of the skin's natural elasticity levels.Subsequently, in time, the skin becomes more and more sagging anddry. Taking into consideration that gravity has its own effect on ourskin, pulling it down, it also contributes to the problem, especiallyin older people.

Some other factors which lead toproblems related to the skin which lacks water are smoking and harshcosmetic chemicals. Namely, cigarettes affect the skinnegatively by creating an imbalance in its complexion, making it lesselastic as well.

In older people, the skin on theelbows, lower legs and forearms, even though other parts can beaffected too, becomes excessively dry. Being such, it can lead toitching and irritation. This kind of skin is commonly caused bylow-humidity environment, most frequently present during the winterand the air-conditioning during the summer. When the skin is parchedthis way, using cosmetics like soaps, detergents, antiperspirants oreven hot baths too often will only make matters worse.

So, all elderly individuals whoexperience dry skin problems are advised to take the above mentionedfactors into consideration and use moisturizers regularly, hydratingtheir skin properly.

Thus, countless factors, from the sunexposure to the chemicals we use for personal hygiene, can lead toexcessive dryness of the skin. We need to be careful about these anddo our best to avoid exposing our skin to them as much as we can.Additionally, we can always contribute to the health of our skin byhydrating it with moisturizers, drinking plenty of water and avoidingclimate which contains low humidity levels.

Soaps for Dry Skin

Even though many elderly would never even think about this, when choosing the best soap for your dry skin the best possible ingredient to opt for is peanut oil. Manyindividuals believe that peanut oil is greasy and may, therefore,think that it can lead to skin problems. Yet, when found in soaps,the situation is quite different – it softens the skin and preventsdehydration.

Moreover, peanut oil if known to bequite rich in vitamin E which is a great antioxidant for the skin,removing and preventing wrinkles and regenerating the damaged skincells.

However, once you opt for this form of soap, you need to keep a couple of things in your mind. First ofall, due to the fact that this is a type of oil, soaps with it arequite soft. Secondly, peanut oil produces a weak lather so it may getspent quickly and, finally, it can get spoiled over a short period oftime.

Fortunately, there are many of soapswith peanut oil which are combined with coconut oil, boosting thelather, palm tree oil making them stronger and firmer and grapefruitseed extract prolonging their life. Thus, if you are making your ownsoaps make sure you remember this. Also, keep it in mind onceshopping for the best possible dry skin protection for the elderlyyou can get.

Some other factors related to usingsoaps and washing your skin with them involve not spending more than15 minutes in the process, avoiding bathing more than once a day andabstaining from wiping yourself dry as soon as you step out of thebath. Rather, pat yourself dry after a quick shower with warm water.You will notice when your skin is soft after a bath and this is theeffect you should always pursue.

To sum up, in order to keep your skinsafe from dryness and irritation, use the right kind of soaps andmoisturizers, avoiding harsh cosmetics and hot water. Also, rememberthat your skin is not as oily as it was when you were a teenager, soit will not need as much scrubbing as it did before.

If you have any other questionsregarding dry skin and the types of soaps you should use, ask foryour doctor's advice and recommendation.