Articles | Links | BGH Library

Winter Skin Care

When Old Man Winter starts blowing, seniors need to pay particular attention to their skin.

"Older skin tends to be thin and dry," says William R. Silverstone, D.O., CMD, medical director of Botsford Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Center. "The lack of humidity in the air further dries the skin, making overexposure to the sun, wind and cold problematic."

In addition, seniors are always subject to skin eruptions like "contact dermatitis, which can result from harsh laundry detergents with a high bleach content," he says.

"The best defense to protect your skin is to use consistently a skin lotion with a high-lanolin, low-alcohol content," suggests Dr. Silverstone. "Your lips also need extra care."

Don't forget about the food factor. "Good nutrition helps put skin in a better physiological state to improve its defense mechanism," explains Dr. Silverstone. "This includes drinking at least eight glasses of water per day which re-hydrates the skin and helps it create a protective layer of oil."