Choosing the Ideal Bath Products for Protecting Your Senior's Skin Health
December 26, 2018
Elderly adults tend to experience more problems with their skin than younger people. As your senior ages, they are likely to have drier skin, skin that is thinner and more vulnerable, skin that feels tight and uncomfortable, and skin that is more likely to be damaged, making your parent vulnerable to infection and other issues. As a family caregiver, there are many ways you can help protect your senior's health and well-being, and one very important one is to protect their skin health. The skin is the largest organ of the body and a vital first line in guarding the body from infection and illness. Keeping your seniors skin healthy is a way to keep them comfortable and reduce the risk that they will suffer uncomfortable and potentially serious consequences. An important way to do this is to choose the right bath products for their skin needs.
Use these tips to choose the ideal bath products for protecting your senior's skin health:
● Water. While not exactly a bath product, it is a vital part of the bathing process. Make sure your parent does not use water that is too hot as this can be very irritating and even damaging to the skin. Your senior should also avoid very long baths and showers as this can be drying and expose your parent's skin to residue of soap and other products.
● Exfoliator. Exfoliating is an important step in keeping the skin healthy. Elderly adults may not experience as much cell turnover as younger adults, which means the dry, dead skin on the surface does not fall off as frequently. An exfoliating product gently removes these cells to allow the new skin beneath to come to the surface. Choose a product with a gentle exfoliating compound like baking soda rather than something harsh like nut shells. Using a loofah or sponge is another great way to gently remove this skin.
● Moisturizing body wash. Moisture is extremely important to elderly skin. Look for body wash that contains moisturizing ingredients such as plant oils. Avoid products with harsh fragrances or colors, or that contain water as one of the first ingredients, as these offer little benefit to the skin.
● In-shower moisturizer. In addition to the moisturizing properties of the body wash, look for moisturizing products that are designed to be used in the shower. Often in oil form, these may also be lotions or creams. They use the warmth and dampness of the skin to promote moisturize absorption.
One of the best resources you have available to you as a family caregiver is elder care. Bringing an elderly home care services provider into your care routine with your parent as early as possible in your care experience with them can make a tremendous difference to you and to your aging parent. The highly personalized services of an elderly home care services provider are specifically designed to help your aging parent stay safe and healthy while also pursuing more independence, be more active and engaged in the world around them, and continue to find meaning and fulfillment in their daily life. This means you can be with your senior when it is right for both of you, and still know they are getting all the care they need.
If you or your loved one is looking for elder care in Santa Cruz, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777
Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990
Source
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-product-ingredients
https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/anti-aging-skin-care/creating-anti-aging-plan/skin-care-in-your-60s-and-70s