Senior Skin Care

Skin care needs increase with age and with certain medical conditions. Your skin can become both thinner and drier as you get older and it loses some of its natural oils. Because of this, it also becomes more vulnerable to damage from the elements—not just sun and wind, but also indoor heating and air-conditioning. Your skin may feel more sensitive to irritants or allergens and need to be better protected with a barrier cream. Illnesses like diabetes may make it harder for injuries to heal while incontinence may expose delicate skin to chafing. Using the right skin care products is essential.

Cleansers and Moisturizers

While facial moisturizers are still important, your skin, especially areas below the neck, may have greater needs. The first skin care product to use to help preserve or repair its natural barrier and prevent or combat dryness is a gentle and nourishing skin cleanser. For use in the tub or shower, a liquid cleanser rather than a bar soap—used with warm not hot water—is your best choice. Some liquids can even be used without water, like Aloe Vesta 2-n-1 Body Wash and Shampoo. Formulated with aloe vera to condition and soothe fragile dry skin, its mild cleaning agents remove dirt and grime without rinsing, and can be used on the hair and scalp as well.

Many “no-rinse” cleansers (meaning they work without water) are foams, and most are formulated to not leave any residue. Because rinsing with water can further dry out skin, using a foam might make sense even if you don’t have mobility issues that make getting into and out of the tub or shower difficult. Aloe Vesta Cleansing Foam is a non-aerosol product that shampoos hair as well as cleans the entire body.

Skin cleansers often come with antimicrobial agents to help eliminate bacteria and prevent odor, important if you’re managing incontinence. Ingredients that you want to avoid if your skin is very sensitive are dyes and fragrances. And always make sure the cleanser pH is compatible with skin’s pH and that it leaves little or no residue, which can irritate as well as simply feel unpleasant. Many cleansers can be used all over the body, but there are also special skin care products formulated just for the perineal area or for wound cleansing, if these are important concerns.

After cleansing, applying a rich moisturizing cream will soothe skin and create a barrier against moisture loss that leads to dry, flaky skin—that’s why the most protective ones are called barrier creams. Applied after you’ve showered or taken a bath, the emollients in a cream will help skin retain the moisture absorbed from the bathwater as well as relieve or prevent irritation. There are several types of moisturizers to choose from—look for a formula tailored to the condition of your skin and the amount of moisture retention needed. The oil-to-water ratio in a moisturizing cream is important—the more oil, the thicker it will be and the better it will work.

If you are managing incontinence, a moisture barrier cream should be an essential component of your skin care routine to protect against irritation. An effective choice is Critic-Aid Moisture Barrier Ointment. Formulated with dimethicone in a clear petrolatum base, it relieves light to heavy skin irritation.

ANTIFUNGAL CREAMS

Skin is particularly vulnerable to different types of fungal infections, especially on certain bodyparts such as the feet (athlete’s foot), the scalp (scalp ringworm) and the groin (jock itch). Fungal infections cause skin to become red and itchy, to peel off or turn leathery and crusty—and cracks in the skin enable bacteria to cause more damage. An antifungal skin care product like [1001:] Critic-Aid Clear Antifungal Moisture Barrier, a clear ointment, can soothe skin irritations due to fungal infections. Other products can help fight the infection itself and repair skin. For instance, BAZA Antifungal Cream is formulated to relieve the discomfort and pain associated with superficial yeast and fungal infections, often caused by incontinence; it contains 2 percent miconazole nitrate in a zinc oxide-based barrier cream.

DISPOSABLE WIPES

When you need quick and easy cleansing and are traveling or unable to get to a sink or tub, disposable wipes or washcloths offer the perfect solution. These handy aids often have antibacterial properties to protect against germs, and some disposable wipes come with special cleansers formulated to help remove stool and urine.  TENA Ultra Washcloths are alcohol-free adult disposable wipes that contain aloe, vitamin E, dimethicone and chamomile to help maintain soft, healthy skin. For more on disposable wipes, view our Adult Wipes buyer guide.