Why We Dry Out As We Age - What You Can Do To Protect Yourself

As we age, many of our biological systems and processes slow down. The most noticeable sign of this natural slowdown is in our skin. Age takes a toll on the oil and sweat glands that help keep our skin moisturized. Not only that, but older skin retains less water. As a result, you may notice your skin becoming drier, itchier, or even start to look creepy as you age. This is especially true for women as they approach menopause.

Other causes of dryness are health conditions that become more common as we age, like kidney disease, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dry, itchy skin can be uncomfortable, but it is also more likely to suffer tears and damage than more supple skin. And that can literally open you up to infection. One of your skin’s most essential functions is protection; skin is the natural barrier that keeps pollutants out of your body. And as your body’s first line of defense, it deserves to be protected.

How can you protect your skin?

We can’t stop the aging process, but we can take steps to protect our skin from its effects. And, maybe, we can even slow it down. Read on to find out how.

• Skip the long, hot showers. Hot water dries your skin by stripping its natural oils. Warm, short showers are healthier.
• If your hair tends towards dryness, shampoo it less frequently to help maintain natural oils and avoid a dry, flaky scalp.
• Wash with unscented, soap-free cleansers to help protect your skin’s natural oils. Avoid exfoliants if your skin is very dry. While they do remove the dead skin, they also can irritate dry skin.
• Moisturize skin with natural-based creams or ointments. The best time to moisturize is after bathing when your skin is still damp.
• Protect the skin on your hands by wearing gloves while doing housework, especially washing dishes, gardening, or cleaning bathrooms.
• Drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits and vegetables that contain a large percentage of water, like melons and celery. Avoid drinking coffee, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol. They act as diuretics, increasing the excretion of water.
• Use a humidifier at home to maintain a healthy level of moisture in the air.
• Eat a nutritious diet full of essential nutrients, including antioxidants and essential fatty acidsto help maintain healthy skin. The rest of your body will also benefit. Skin-boosting antioxidants are found in tangerines, papayas, cherries, citrus fruits, grapes, spinach, olives, canned tuna in oil, beef, green tea, and sardines.
• Boost your natural collagen production. Collagen works with elastin to keep our skin strong, firm, and elastic. As we age, we make less of these essential proteins while breaking down what already exists in our skin. Supplementing daily with a high-quality hydrolyzed collagen, like DeepMarine, replaces what is missing and helps your body synthesize its own collagen, improving hydration and restoring skin to a healthier state. Collagen helps heal and support your aging skin, keeping it younger longer.

The aging process is inevitable, but dry, unhealthy skin is not. Proper skin protection, good nutrition, and DeepMarine Collagen can keep your skin looking and feeling its best.