Skin Problems After 40

If you end up living to a ripe, old age, which many of us hope to, you will see a change in your skin. It's inevitable. However, you can be aggressive in caring for your aging skin and preventing it from further damage.

Dryness

Everything changes with time and age, including your skin. It becomes drier, according to Uihealthcare.com. However, there are some measures you can take to keep dry, itchy skin at bay. Don't bathe every day and when you do keep your baths or showers short. Use warm water. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, always rinse off immediately upon exiting the pool. Purchase and use gentle soaps, such as one containing glycerin and cleansing cream. Always moisturize your entire body with lotion after bathing. Do it while you are still damp because that will seal the moisture in. If your house is dry, purchase a humidifier. Avoid, caffeine, spicy foods and booze.

Sun Damage

You may already have sun damage, which is manifested via wrinkles, liver (age) spots, skin cancers, skin roughness and dilated blood vessels. Don't compound the existing problem by continuing to go out in the sun without first applying sunscreen.

Exfoliative Dermatitis

Uihealthcare.com explains that there is a condition called exfoliative dermatitis, which is very common in men over the age of 40. The skin peels or sheds excessively and may feel tight. Hair may fall out in the area where the peeling and shedding occurs. This can be caused by diseases, such as malignancies, leukemia and auto-immune deficiencies, as well as by the drugs that you are taking. Rub rather than scratch at your itchy skin, treat the condition with antihistamines or steroids (as instructed by your doctor) and creams and lotions.

Stasis Dermatitis

Women over the age of 50, women may suffer from stasis dermatitis, which is a skin condition that results in dry, scaly, tender, red and swollen skin. This happens due to the pooling of water in the lower leg, which is the result of poor blood flow in the veins. If you scratch the dry skin, ulcers and bruises can result. Keep your legs elevated and wrapped in an elastic bandage that isn't so tight that it will restrict your circulation even more. Ask your physician about the appropriate medications.

Other Problems

Mature skin is simply different than youthful skin and requires attention and possibly different creams and lotions than what you used when you were younger. Our pores start to get bigger in our 30s. They become prominent primarily around our chin, nose and on our cheeks. Wrinkles appear and our pigment may become uneven. Blotchiness may occur, according to Girl.com. Our complexion can become dull-looking, and we may develop a tendency for broken capillaries under our eyes. Our skin gets loose at our jawline. Some of this is simply genetics; other problems have been created over the years because of too much sun exposure and smoking. Keep yourself hydrated from the inside out, eat properly, get your rest, protect yourself from the sun and moisturize.