Skin Care during Winter

Skin care is important, especially in winter. The skin of the elderly is thin and fragile, and warrants care that is a little different and products that are milder than those that are fit for younger skin. The skin of seniors has been overexposed for a lifetime, and bears those negative effects of the exposure to the sun and maybe smoking too. This can cause a few negative effects that need special attention.

Here is how you can care for elderly skin. Remember, that Mr. Jack Frost who comes every winter, does not just nip (no matter the jingle says). He definitely bites. He does not like to target just the nose, but wants all the skin.

Winter’s bitter cold and freezing wind can strip the skin of its natural moisture. This results in itching, cracking and bleeding. According to doctors, skin that is broken is a recipe for infection. Even when there is the welcoming warmth from climate-control systems, there can be suffering. The heating system that keeps your home toasty in winter can also suck moisture out of the air. When there is less moisture, the chance of infection is high.

The elderly are particularly prone to skin issues. As they grow old, their skin becomes thin and dry and this increases with age. This continuous dryness makes the skin fragile. Senile purpura and shingles are two common skin problems that occur in the elderly.

Senile purpura is also known as solar or traumatic purpura. It is a benign condition of extravasated blood in the upper layer of the skin and is characterized by ecchymotic, purpuric patches. These patches are prominent in the forearms, arms, or legs. This condition, especially common among the elderly, is known to instigate mild trauma. This problem is said to be common among people who are on blood thinning medication and aspirin. Treating senile purpura is not necessary as the extravasated blood eventually gets reabsorbed.

Shingles is kind of rash similar to chicken pox. This is disease is caused by the chicken pox creating virus – the varicella-zoster virus. When a person has had chicken pox, the virus remains in the body even after the rashes go away. This virus does not leave your body and lives in the nerve cells. Medical research has not yet discovered the reason why the virus remains in the body.

This virus can become active at any during a person’s life time. It usually surfaces in old age as old age is when the natural resistance to infections begins to crumble. Shingles affects the nerves and causes pain and blisters. These rashes are similar to chickenpox, but known to be a lot more painful. Other symptoms include burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin. Shingles can also cause chills, fever, headache and stomach upset. There can be blisters that are filled with fluid, and the skin can be sensitive to touch.  Trauma varies from mild itching to strong pain.

The difference between shingles and chicken pox is that chickenpox is more of a childhood illness, but shingles usually targets older people.

However, not all adults get shingles. Most people live with the virus and never get shingles. But research says that one in five people who have had chickenpox earlier do get shingles later in life, especially after the age of 50.

Once we are aware of the types of skin problems that can occur in the elderly, the can be prepared for the health challenge that come as a part and parcel of old age. Basically, it is the immune systems that weakens and this is what makes older people more susceptible to illness.

http://www.agingcare.com/elderly-skin-care
http://www.cmsschicago.org/chicago-senior-pulse-blog/2012/1/11/winter-skin-care-for-older-adults.aspx
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/dermatology/the-aging-skin/