Mature Skin: How to Care for Aging Skin

Signs of mature skin include:

• Loss of elasticity – As we age, skin naturally produces less collagen and elastin, essential components for maintaining firmness and elasticity.  
• Fine lines and wrinkles on the face – Due to the loss of elasticity combined with creases caused by movement and facial expressions over time, wrinkles start to appear, particularly around the eyes, nose, and mouth. 
• Deeper static wrinkles – Over time, fine lines become deeper wrinkles on the face such as crow’s feet, smile lines, and forehead wrinkles. 
• Dark spots - Particularly on areas most frequently exposed to the sun including the face, neck, chest, hands, and forearms. 
• Uneven skin tone – Repeated cumulative sun exposure can cause skin to develop an uneven tone that can become more prominent with age. 
• Age-related dryness - As we age, our body produces less Hyaluronic Acid, essential for binding water and hydrating the skin. This leaves skin more prone to dryness, which can also contribute to temporary fine lines due to dehydration.

• Genetics
• Natural loss of skin elasticity – collagen and elastin are responsible for skin firmness and elasticity and naturally decline as we age. 
• Natural loss of moisture - as we get older, our skin’s sebaceous glands produce less oil and our skin’s ability to retain moisture reduces, which can inevitably cause dry skin.

• Skin damage from sun exposure – Sun damage contributes to premature aging of the skin known as photoaging, leading to symptoms like sun-induced dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. 
• Environmental pollutants - Pollution triggers the release of free radicals and accelerates oxidative stress in the skin, leading to damage and premature aging. 
• Smoking – Smoking accelerates oxidative stress on skin which affects  collagen production and also contributes to expression of wrinkles around the mouth 
• Lack of sleep – Sleep helps support skin health and repair. Poor sleep has been associated with an increase in signs of intrinsic aging and compromised skin barrier functioning.

1. Cleanse for your skin type
   Choose a cleanser for your skin type. Mature skin happens to everyone, but your overall skin type (dry, oily, normal, combination, sensitive) is unique to you, regardless of your age.  
2. Moisturize for your age
   As aging skin can get dry, ensure that your skin has plenty of moisture. Keeping skin hydrated can help to reduce the appearance of dehydration-related fine lines and wrinkles, and can help skin to feel smooth and supple. Choosing a skin firming moisturizer like NIVEA Skin Firming Nourishing Hydration Body Lotion can help to support skin elasticity while helping skin retain much-needed moisture. 
3. Use sunscreen every day 
   You can’t reverse the signs of sun damage, but you can help prevent further signs of overexposure to the sun. After moisturizing your skin, be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to any exposed areas of skin to help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays. Always use sunscreen in conjunction with other sun protection measures and be sure to follow usage instructions on the packaging to get the most out of your sunscreen.