Dry Skin Treatment

Dry skin can occur in any individual of any age although the occurrence is seen to rise as the person’s age advances or in other words, an aged person is more likely to suffer from problems of dry skin than a younger person.

People try out a variety of home remedies to counter dry skin. The response that one gets to such dry skin treatments is also different for people of differing ages with older people less likely to gain benefits that a younger person gets.

Let us now see why aging has an influence in increasing the occurrence of dry skin and why older people suffer more from this common condition.

The skin of people contains important glands like the sebaceous glands and the sweat glands. The sebaceous glands produce an oily substance called sebum. This sebum is responsible for holding the moisture within the skin and making it soft and supple. The sweat glands as most of us know produce sweat that helps in regulating body temperature and removing harmful toxins from the body. It is also helpful in preventing the multiplication of harmful bacteria on the skin surface.

As age advances, the activity of the sebaceous glands and the sweat glands gradually reduces. This rate of reduced activity is seen to be higher among women than in men. As these glands play a role in maintaining the moisture content of the skin, their reduced activity is responsible for the formation of dry skin.

Also, as age advances, the response of the skin to lifestyle issues responsible for dry skin formation also becomes higher. For example, the skin becomes more sensitive to chemicals present in harsh soaps or hand sanitizers causing the occurrence of dry skin.

As the response to stimuli is exaggerated, even the dry skin treatment in the elderly will have some amount of variation than the treatment that is undertaken for correcting dry skin in a younger person.

While lifestyle changes like avoiding long baths or showers, avoiding the use of harsh soaps, avoiding the use of air conditioners and humidifiers, avoiding too much exposure to direct sunlight, etc are commonly advocated both in the elderly and the young to counter dry skin, some important precautions need to be exercised while providing dry skin treatment in the elderly.

Important among them is the increased care that needs to be taken while using any products for dry skin treatment. The sensitivity of the skin to these products is greatly increased in the elderly and might cause more harm than good. So, if products are used, they should be used with caution.

Mild soaps or cleansers are the best when it comes to dry skin treatment in the elderly. These have the quality of avoiding unnecessary irritation to the skin while being safe to use even while cleansing the sensitive dry skin of the elderly person.

Emollients to soothe chapped or flaky areas of dry skin is also advocated but with the necessary care and caution. If there is any sensitivity seen, the product is immediately stopped and necessary medical care is sought at the earliest. Instead, natural products like coconut oil can also be used to soothe the skin and to provide some lubrication and softness to the skin and helping the skin to retain the moisture.

If any of the home remedies that you are trying for dry skin treatment in the elderly do not have the desired effects and the symptoms are continuing to worsen, it is best to seek medical help at the earliest.