Summer Skin Care Tips for the Elderly
Summer is coming, and that means your mom’s skincare routine will change a bit. The products she uses all winter may not work as effectively in the summer. They might be too heavy and oily. Plus, people don’t always think of sunscreen in the winter.
Your mom’s skin needs to be cared for. Skin that’s too dry can crack easily, which leads to infection and pain. Sun damage is dangerous as it’s a leading cause of skin cancer. It’s time to look at the things your mom should be doing to care for her skin this summer.
Use Sunscreen Constantly
When your mom is outside in the sun, she needs to protect her skin. Light clothing may still allow the sun to pass through the weave, so sunscreen is added protection against sunburn and damage that can lead to skin cancer.
Your mom needs to protect her skin. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 35 or more is important. You might find that her skin is sensitive to certain ingredients, so you might want to look for mineral sunscreens instead of chemical ones. In some states, mineral-based sunscreen is required to help protect the reefs and aquatic life.
When using sunscreen, your mom should apply it about 10 minutes before heading outside. She needs to give it time to sink into more than the top layer of skin.
As your mom or her personal care aide applies sunscreen, make sure areas like the top of the feet, ears, forehead, and eyelids are not overlooked. Those areas have thinner skin and burn easily.
Check Her Skin After Coming Inside From Gardening or Outdoor Activities
Insects are no fun, and some of them are dangerous. If your mom has been gardening, someone must check her clothing and certain areas for ticks. Ticks can spread diseases like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and several others.
Getting ticks off your mom’s body before they bite is helpful. If they have bitten, removing them before a day or two passes is essential for preventing these diseases.
Apply Moisturizer at the End of the Day
At the end of the day, sunscreen should be washed off. A skin cream that has ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, almond oil, or hyaluronic acid can help trap moisture after a bath or shower. That will keep the skin from drying out.
Follow the same moisturizing routine in the morning, Applying moisturizer while the skin helps trap in water that was absorbed during the shower.
Personal care at home aides help with skincare and many other aspects of hygiene and grooming. With so many risks arising from skin infections from dry, cracked skin and the risk of skin cancer, your mom needs someone helping her take care of her skin. Personal care at home does just that.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Deerfield, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
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