What Older Adults Need To Know About Sun Protection
Sun protection becomes increasingly important as we age, because older skin is thinner, more fragile, and slower to repair damage. Years of accumulated sun exposure raise the risk of wrinkles, discoloration, age spots, and skin cancers—even during everyday activities like walking, gardening, or running errands.
The SPF in skincare or makeup alone is usually not enough. Moisturizers and foundations with SPF often don’t provide adequate protection because people typically apply too little, the products may not be broad‑spectrum (covering both UVA and UVB rays), and SPF wears off during the day due to sweating, touching the skin, or time outdoors.
To improve protection it is recommended to:
- Use a separate, broad‑spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every morning as the final skincare step.
- Apply generously, and not forgetting commonly missed areas such as the ears, neck, chest, and hands.
- Reapply every two hours when outdoors, or sooner if sweating or swimming.
- Choose mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) for sensitive or mature skin, since they are gentle and work immediately upon application.
Sunscreen is only part of a complete sun‑safety strategy. Wearing protective clothing, hats, sunglasses, and seeking shade—especially during peak sun hours—provides added defense against UV damage and supports long‑term skin health
Green Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
Nutrition per serving: 192 cal, 4 g pro, 30 g carb, 4 g fiber, 11.5 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 7 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 43 mg sodium
Ingredients
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 cup light coconut milk
- 1 banana, sliced and frozen
- 1 tsp. grated lime zest
- 1 Tbsp. lime juice
Directions:
- In blender, puree all ingredients until smooth. Divide between two glasses.
- Source: Prevention.com
The Rainbow Diet
The “rainbow diet” means eating fruits and vegetables in many different colors each day. Each color gives your body different nutrients that help you stay healthy. For older adults, this way of eating is important because it can help support the heart, brain, eyes, and immune system.
- Red foods (like tomatoes and strawberries) help keep your heart healthy and may lower cancer risk.
- Orange and yellow foods (like carrots and oranges) support your eyes, skin, and immune system.
- Green foods (like spinach and broccoli) help your bones, blood, and overall health.
- Blue and purple foods (like blueberries and grapes) support memory and brain health.
- White and brown foods (like garlic and mushrooms) help fight germs and support heart health.
Try to include several colors on your plate at each meal.
Source: AltaMed.org