As skin ages it loses elasticity, becomes drier, and more lined and wrinkled. Do you remember looking in the mirror for the first time when you saw wrinkles on your face? The mirror slapped me silly. How about the first time you saw wrinkles on your spouse? You didn’t dare say anything, did you?
If you are a man, be careful not to say anything about unusual growths or changes in skin texture on your wife’s face or for that matter, any part of her body. You must maintain this heightened sensitivity until age 80 or when your wife has frequent conversations with the coffeemaker.
Some people wrinkle more than others when they age. People in the Rocky Mountain States like Colorado wrinkle more than people in other parts of the nation due to climate. The dry weather in Colorado gives people more wrinkles than if they lived in a more humid state. The low humidity and high ultra-violet levels in the Rocky Mountain state because of high altitude inflicts vengeance on your skin.
People with lighter skin have a propensity to wrinkle more than people with darker skin. The color of your skin is highly correlated to wrinkling. This is the result of the varying degrees of pigment that we produce. The darker your skin, the larger the pockets in skin cells known as melanosomes, and these contain the sticky pigment melanin. In darker skin, the melanin is packed so tightly that it absorbs and scatters more light, giving you more protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
When a man wrinkles he’s distinguished; when a woman wrinkles, she’s aging. That’s society at its worst. Wrinkled men look experienced and wise; wrinkled women look like they’ve been dragged through a thorny rose bush backwards. Some of us need an attitude adjustment.
I’ve read that foods such as vegetable oil, read meats, white bread and sugary processed food can hasten skin wrinkling due to chronic inflammation in your body. Foods that are believed to prevent wrinkles are high in omega 3 fatty acids, and alpha-linolen acid such as flaxseed oil, avocados, salmon and olive oil. Also fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C, zinc and beta caretone- nutrients that enable the body to produce collagen which keeps skin firm. So the expression: ‘you are what you eat’ applies to growing old. I need to eat a young person.
The Battle over Wrinkles
Many aging baby boomers have a ‘forever young’ mindset, postponing the inevitability of wrinkling by spending billions of dollars every year on wrinkle creams, Botox and plastic surgery. According to the market research firm Global Industry Analysts the U.S. market for anti-aging products is projected to be more than $114 billion in 2015.
A good face lift might last 8 to 10 years, while facial fillers might last 1 to 2 years, and Botox about three months. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to appear young if it makes us feel good, raise our confidence and promote a healthier lifestyle. The problem with forever young attitudes is not individual attempts to maintain a youthful appearance but rather the societal messaging that staying young is superior to growing old; that smooth-looking facial skin is beautiful and a wrinkled face is ugly.
Plastic surgery may be common among celebrities but some refuse to go under the knife and have chosen to age gracefully instead. Here are some of the actors/actresses/models who have joined the resistance movement in the battle against wrinkles:
Brooke Shields (47) Brigette Bardot (78)
Emma Thompson (54) Julianne Moore (52)
Kate Winslet (37) Kate Moss (39)
Rachel Weisz (43) Ursula Andress (77)
Daniel Craig (45) Catherine Deneuve (71)
Brad Pitt (50) Javier Bardem (44)
Jodie Foster (50) Connie Britton (46)
Johnny Depp (49) Judi Dench (78)
Katherine Ross (74) Sigourney Weaver (63)
Julia Roberts (45):
There is a collective denial of aging in America and we need to reverse this trend. American author, Clarence Day, once said:
“Age should not have its face lifted, but it should rather teach the world to admire wrinkles as the etchings of experience and the firm line of character.”
If you decide against anti-aging treatments, here are some ways for coping with wrinkling.
Ice Cream. Eat a lot of ice cream because I’ve never seen a kid with wrinkles.
Cream and Sandpaper. Apply anti-wrinkle cream on face, followed by sandpaper for best results.
Reading Glasses. Remove your reading glasses—out of sight, out of mind.
Meditation. If you deeply meditate- you may convince yourself all that matters is your mind and soul. We just want you to believe that you are not your physical body. Because if you are not your physical body, why worry about physical rotting and the wrinkles that accompany it?
Perhaps a more important reason to take up meditation is the fact that I never met a Buddhist who had plastic surgery on his or her face. Buddhists don’t sweat the small stuff like wrinkles and shriveling. If meditation works for over one billion Buddhists, there must be something to it.
Misery Loves Company. Hang out with people who have as many or more wrinkles than you—select your friends carefully but keep your wrinkled friends closer. Or identify celebrities who are aging and showing wrinkles—the list of celebrities who have joined the resistance movement in the battle against wrinkles presented earlier is a good start.
Home Remedy. My Grandmother had a remedy for how to prevent sagging skin—just eat until the wrinkles fill out. She was always pushing food.
Final Thoughts
It is easy to become fixated on wrinkles, particularly on our face. But as long as we remember aging is something which happens to all of us, a ‘feeling of togetherness’ eases the pain.
The choice is whether we do anything about it and if so, how much are we prepared to do. People who have taken care of themselves through natural remedies like a healthy diet, exercise, and positive lifestyle choices create a healthy appearance while raising self-confidence that helps them deal with the inevitability of aging.
My Grandpa once said: “old age stinks but it’s the only way to live a long life.” A wrinkled face is a work of art that took years to create; be proud to display it.
Dr. David Lereah
Aging
Healthier hair, softer skin and less stress can be achieved by following a few simple steps:
- Glowing skin. Cold water can cause pores to tighten, making it difficult to thoroughly clean skin. Conversely, hot water can dry out skin, causing it to become tight. To offer peace of mind and ensure the temperature of the water flowing from your shower or bathtub spout is right for you, Delta Faucet introduced Temp2O Technology – a digital temperature display featuring LED color indicators to easily identify water temperature ranges.
- Luxurious locks. Where cold water can reduce hair volume, hot water can strip locks of natural oils, leaving hair dry and brittle. Most shampoos work best with a moderate water temperature so be aware of hot versus cold when treating your hair.
- Olive your new look. Whether harsh summer sun or cold, dry winters – damaged, dehydrated hair can happen year round. Repairing distressed hair does not always mean you need to make an appointment at the salon or stock up on expensive hair treatments. Simply look in your kitchen cabinet. Olive oil adds moisture and shine to lackluster hair, so treat it – wet or dry – at a fraction of the cost.
- Turn up the volume. After a shower or bath, tousle your hair from root to crown with your fingertips as you blow-dry to create the illusion of fuller hair. When strands are dry, give the roots extra lift by back-combing undersides with a clean, dry toothbrush. Rather than tearing at hair with a comb, the soft bristles will grip and rough up strands just enough to maintain lift.
- Relaxing fruit bath. After a tough day of sun exposure, stress and pollution – a bath set at the appropriate temperature can help de-stress the body and mind. Start by running a warm bath – 80 to 100 degrees – with a half-gallon of milk and lavender oil, and rub pureed watermelon, a natural anti-inflammatory, on the skin for a soothing finish.
- Drink up. We’ve all heard about the benefits of drinking water – and they’re true. Add a few slices of cucumber or mint leaves to a glass of ice water for a post bath or shower refresher. Skin care expert and research scientist Warren Wallo explains, “Water helps flush toxins from your body and hydrates your system, for healthy-looking skin and a soft, natural glow.”
During the day, environmental factors are battling against our skin and breaking down the structural components which keep our skin tight and firm. Elastin, which is one of these components, is primarily composed of cross-linked fibers to form a durable, resilient web. In facial skin, this elastin web helps to keep skin flexible but tight, providing a bounce-back reaction to its normal shape as it stretches to accommodate normal activities like talking.
As skin ages, the natural cross-linking of elastin fibers is reduced. At night, while you sleep, the skin works to repair and restore its structural components, and actually “opens up” to allow creams and serums to absorb more readily. You can get the most bang for your buck, then, by applying products with powerful anti-aging ingredients before bed.
“It’s important to establish a nighttime skincare regimen to restore skin’s defenses and replenish essential moisture,” explains nutritionist Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD. She adds that the skin can lose moisture during sleep, making hydrating ingredients especially important.
To help skin restore itself at night, women should adopt a nighttime skin care routine that includes an exfoliating cleanser, a serum and a moisturizing cream created for evening use. Sass recommends applying a nighttime serum containing beneficial and robust ingredients such as DDF Restoring Night Serum. This nighttime serum contains an exclusive turmeric complex that strengthens the moisture barrier and drenches the skin with essential hydration to allow the natural cross linking of elastin, helping to repair the look of deep wrinkles for visible results in just two weeks. Women who used DDF Restoring Night Serum saw noticeable improvements. After four weeks of use, the skin’s surface structure doubled in strength, significantly minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It’s easy for seniors to fall in the bedroom, especially when getting in or out of bed. Or, when getting dressed.
These, and other hazards, make the bedroom another room that would benefit from safety updates.
Safer bedrooms help seniors maintain independence
It’s important to make sure the rooms where seniors spend a lot of time are as safe as possible. Preventing falls is one of the best ways to help older adults stay independent.
10 easy bedroom safety updates
- Make it easier to turn lights on and off by making any bedside lamp touch activated. Use removable mounting strips to attach the touch sensor in a convenient place.
- Use an automatic LED night light so it’s easy to find and turn on the bedside lamp when getting up at night.
- Place a sturdy chair in the bedroom so your older adult can sit while dressing to prevent falls.
- Remove any throw rugs, electrical wires, or clutter from the floor to prevent tripping and falling.
- Clean and organize closets and drawers so frequently used items are within easy reach — avoid storing anything too high or too low.
- Make sure the bed is at the correct height so it’s easy to get in and out. Place the box spring on the floor if it’s too high or use inexpensive bed lifts if it’s too low.
- Consider adding a simple bed rail or a no-installation floor to ceiling grab bar next to the bed to help with getting up.
- Install an easy-to-use phone by the bed and post important phone numbers in large print.
- Make sure a smoke detector is installed on or near the ceiling. Get one with 10 year battery and low false alarm rate for low maintenance.
- Use a passive monitoring system like Evermind to discreetly monitor the bedside lamp. It lets you know that your senior’s usual routine is going smoothly and gives an added layer of safety.
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Exercising seems like a chore, instead of an enjoyable activity.
Do you find exercise boring or overwhelming? For you, the challenge is to find activities that are more enjoyable for you and easy to do. We can help! You might also think about exercising with a friend or a group of people – by joining a class or walking with a friend. Exercise will help you feel more involved and connected if you do it with others and find activities you like. Set yourself a mission to think differently about exercise because it can help you live a longer and healthier life.
I can’t stand the idea of exercising every day for at least 30 minutes.
That’s okay because exercising for several 10-minute periods a day can be just as effective as one 30-minute period. To get some ten-minute exercises, park in the farthest space at the shopping mall, or leave the car a couple of blocks away from your destination. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do some of your own housekeeping or gardening.
I’ve always heard “no pain, no gain” and I don’t want to be in pain.
When you exercise, you should raise your heartbeat and breathe a little heavily, but you shouldn’t be hurting. In fact, if you push yourself so hard that you hurt, you may injure yourself. You can get plenty of good results when you exercise without pain. In fact, if you exercise in short ten-minute spurts, you may not even perspire heavily!
I’m already tired. Exercising will just make me more exhausted.
Physical activity will actually make you more alert – and will help you sleep better at night, which will make you less tired during the day. When you exercise, endorphins are released in your body. These make you more relaxed and give you energy!
I’m not sure what exercise programs are best for me.
As a senior, you may have specific conditions or diseases that should be taken into account before you begin an exercise program. Talk to your doctor about what type of exercise is best for you , and what types of exercise you should avoid. Your doctor may be able to connect you with a physical therapist who can assess your strengths and weaknesses and advise you about an exercise plan. A fitness instructor at the gym can do the same, but make sure you tell him or her about your limitations.
I can’t exercise because of a medical condition or physical limitation.
If you have a disease or disability, you may not be able to exercise as you once did – and this can make you feel frustrated or depressed. Don’t stop exercising now! This is when you need physical activity the most. Exercise can make you feel much better physically, mentally and emotionally – and can improve your mobility and reduce frailty.
Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, think about what you can do. Positive thoughts produce positive results. Talk to your doctor to find out what type of physical activity is best for you, and ask your doctor to help you locate a health professional to help design your exercise plan.
I don’t have the money to join a gym or buy expensive equipment.
There are lots of ways to exercise without ever walking in the door of a gym or purchasing fitness equipment! You can do lots of activities at home – indoors or out, with no specialized equipment. Meeting a friend for a walk or bike ride. Take a dance class at the senior center. Use resistance bands against your furniture, floors and walls to increase your strength. None of these activities require you to join a gym or buy equipment.
I don’t know how to use the equipment at my gym.
Are you avoiding the gym because you don’t understand the equipment? Make an appointment with an instructor at your gym who can teach you how to use the equipment the right way. If you haven’t already joined a gym, talk to other seniors and your doctor to find out which gyms connect well with seniors and are less intimidating. The local YMCA and senior center are good places to start.
NOTE: Always talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. Every type of exercise is not appropriate for all people, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. And it’s important that you start slowly with any physical activity.