Aging is part and parcel of life, and with that comes many forms of health deterioration. Hairs turn white, energy levels drop and organs start to weaken as well. Unfortunately, the skin is no exception to this rule. Aside from wrinkling and losing elasticity, our skin also becomes more prone to skin tears and bruises. These skin tears are normally caused by accidents that traumatize the skin, often leaving bruises. Such accidents can be as simple as bumping into a chair. These bruises are not the prettiest things in the world to look at and should be prevented as much as possible. The good news is that there are ways to minimize the appearance of skin tears and prevention is also possible. Here are some ways to prevent skin tears and bruising in the elderly.
Keep Your Skin Moist
Keeping your skin moist plays an important role when it comes to preventing skin tears. As much as possible, use soapless cleaning products or soaps that are PH balanced. Avoid taking long showers, and make sure you do not shower in hot water. Hot showers may be relaxing for the muscles, but having them regularly will dry out your skin. Make sure to use hypoallergenic moisturizers twice a day to keep your skin feeling soft and supple. The moisture in your skin will help with the skin’s elasticity, which will help with skin tears.
Eat the Right Food
Eating a healthy diet also plays a part in keeping healthy skin. The food you consume has a direct correlation to the nutrients you take in. This will affect the health of your skin. Eat a balanced diet filled with nutrients, and that means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables as well. Drink plenty of water as well, as this will help to keep your skin moisturized from within. You can drink many types of fluids as they have different levels of hydration. The ones that help with hydration the best are orange juice and milk.
Check Your Surroundings
The last tip will be to be wary of your surroundings. Many skin tears and bruises happen due to blunt trauma or friction, and how your commonly used spaces are planned can increase the chances of it happening. Make sure that every room has plenty of light for you to see where every item is. Avoid having items displayed in the walkways so that you will not bump into them.
Protect Yourself
You can also protect yourself by putting in a bit of effort. It helps to keep your fingernails and toenails short, as this will prevent tears or bruising when you itch and scratch. Wearing long sleeves, pants, or socks that are knee-high can also protect the skin from direct contact with possibly rough surfaces, but also prevent the skin from drying out due to sun exposure. Do be mindful of the weather though. Wearing long sleeves in the heat can be uncomfortable and can increase the chances of dehydration.
