Say the words skin and age, and you probably think about wrinkles. Listen up-forget about wrinkles. Normal, age-related do you no harm. You are beautiful with them; don’t let advertising, plastic surgeons or shallow, vain friends convince you otherwise. Years of sun exposure, not discovering moisturiser until your 30s and a persistent rosy flush on your face-these are the skin issues that adults over 40 should be most concerned with.

Consider this: when you’re young, your top layer of skin typically turns over every 26-42 days. From around the age of 30,that turnover rate slows. By your 80s, your skin takes 50 percent longer to renew itself. And that’s the problem. Now the protective outer layer of your skin is just hanging around for longer, and its function is impaired.

That in turn leads to a host of skin-related problems, including dryness and a greater susceptibility to irritation. It also means that dead skin cells stay on the surface for longer, giving your skin a dull appearance and rough texture. That dryness and flaking can also make your skin itchy, sometimes resulting in red, scaly patches of eczema. Plus, your oil glands produce less oil, which also contributes to dryness.

Your skin also thins with age, with one study finding that women over 65 had lost about 20 percent of their skin thickness. This is why skin becomes more sensitive to creams and oils with age. Just a little permeates the skin more completely and may lead to the itchiness and rashes of contact dermatitis.

This time of life is also when the sunbathing of your youth returns to haunt you. Any time the sun hits your skin, it creates an inflammatory reaction that breaks down collagen – the binding material in your skin – as well as elastin fibres. That’s why people who spent a lot of time in the sun when they were younger may have that leathery look.

Ageing also delivers two other challenges to the skin.

Shingles is a painful skin condition in which the nerves just under the skin become inflamed. It’s caused by the chickenpox virus, which has lain dormant in your system all these years just waiting for your immune system to weaken. About 20 per cent of people aged 60 and older who get shingles are left with a painful condition called post-herpetic neuralgia.

Rosacea starts out looking like blushing or oridnary skin redness, but, eventually, tiny pimples and very noticeable blood vessels may appear, particularly on your nose and cheeks. Rosacea affects about one it ten people in the UK, more women than men, and typically strikes between the ages of 30 and 50. Scientists don’t really understand what causes it, but ‘leaky’ blood vessels, sun damage, a reaction to a skin micro organism, or abnormal immune or inflammatory responses may be involved.

While these last two conditions require medical treatment, usually in the form of laser therapy and/or prescription medication, there are certain lifestyle steps you can take either alone or as an add-on to your doctor’s care to protect your skin."

To manage dry, itchy skin
Skip the soap If your skin is showing signs of ageing, then your days of using soap are probably over - most soaps are simply too drying for older skin. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) recommends that older people avoid soap, bubble bath and shower gels, which strip the skin of its natural oils. Instead, use moisturising soap substitutes, and apply the lotion directly to the skin with a flannel or sponge. Rinse with warm water not hot or cold and apply amoisturising cream afterwards.

Step on the moisturiser Forget fancy ingredients and 100 an ounce anti ageing treatments. Any basic moisturiser will do a good job. Use on still damp skin, to lock in water, and moisturise at least twice a day when you first step out of the shower, before your skin is completely dry (the moisturiser will form a film over your skin, locking in liquid), and again before you go to bed after cleaning your face with a moisturising cleanser. Use moisturiser on your whole body you need about 30g all over the skin for each application, says the BAD so be sure to buy a big tub.

Hydrate the air -It’s common sense that dry air is bad for dry skin, and if you have a modern, centrally heated home with double glazing, the air indoors may become quite dry in the winter. If so, moisturise the air and your skin with a humidifier. You can have a humidifier installed as part of your heating system or use a portable version. Another way to put more moisture into the air in winter is to hang just washed clothes to dry in the house. A final spin in the dryer helps to remove any stiffness and wrinkles.

Exfoliate at least weekly Exfoliation is the process of removing dead cells from the skin’s surface to reveal ‘younger’, fresher looking skin below. It helps to get rid of the dull look that ageing can bring, as well as shrinking the appearance of large pores and removing any flakiness from dry skin. Typically, you use a cream exfoliant to do the job. But if these are too harsh for your skin, try a cleanser with 10 per cent alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), naturally occurring acids that act as exfoliators. If you use products with AHAs, look for over the counter brands with glycolic acid, which seems to penetrate the skin best.
Wear gloves Not for warmth, but for skin protection. Use rubber gloves for washing dishes, doing housework and handling household cleaners. Even better, switch to gentler, ‘green’ cleaners that aren’t made with harsh chemicals, or use natural ingredients such as vinegar for cleaning. But still wear the gloves.

Take your vitamins Antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) help to combat skin damage from free radicals, whether they come from our diet, sunlight or pollutants in the air. Ensuring a good intake of antioxidants from foods can help skin repair processes, boost collagen production and help to retain moistrue. But take your vitamin E in a skin cream, not as a supplement there’s some evidence that vitamin E supplement taken by mouth can be hazardous for older people.

Take a warm bath - Add ten drops of chamomile oil to bathwater, then soak for 10 minutes. Other bath additions to help itchy skin include oatmeal and geranium, hyssop, peppermint and myrrh essential oils (use ten drops of one type). Don’t forget to slap on the moisturiser afterwards, and make sure the water is warm, not hot. Hot water tends to dry out the skin.

Swallow some evening primrose - Several studies find that taking this omega-3 fatty acid significantly reduces itching and rashes related to dry skin, most likely by increasing levels of anti-inflammatory chemicals in the blood. Take four 500 mg capsules twice a day until your condition improves.

To manage rosacea
Cool off fiare-ups - When the redness of rosacea appears, combine several drops of soothing herbal oils such as rose, lavender and chamomile in a basin of cool water. Soak a washcloth in the liquid and lay it over your face for 10 minutes. Repeat as necessary. These herbs are often used to reduce skin irritation.

Breathe deeply - Stress is a common trigger for rosacea, so practising stress-reducing deep breathing can help to avoid flare-ups. Learn to breathe from your stomach, so that each in-breath is deep enough to expand your abdomen, while each out-breath lowers it. When you start to feel the blood rising in your face, continue with this form of breathing for 3 minutes, ideally with your eyes closed.

Swallow some fish oil - Fish-oil supplements are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Since rosacea is related to inflammation, these inflammation dampers can help to reduce flare-ups. Take 1,500 mg or less twice a day. You can also try 500mg of evening primrose oil three times a day.

Use green-tinted make up - The green helps to cover the red. This won’t get rid of your rosacea, but it will stop people from asking if you’ve had too much sun lately.

Watch your diet - Spicy foods, hot liquids and even mature cheeses can trigger a flare up.

Try hypnosis - Several studies reported in medical journals found that hypnosis can help patients to control the flushing of rosacea.

Ask your GP to test your for Helicobacter pylori This bacterium is the primary cause of stomach ulcers. However, a growing body of evidence suggests it may also be linked to rosacea. In one study, in Madrid, of 44 patients with rosacea and H.pylori infection, completely eradicating the bacteria in 29 volunteers led to a complete or significant improvement in rosacea in 19 patients or 65 per cent.

Talk to your doctor about intense pulse light (IPL) Just two or three sessions of this therapy could make a huge difference to your rosacea. It’s not generally available on the NHS, though it is offered by many private clinics.

To manage shingles
Start an antiviral - At the first sign of shingles, get a prescription for an antiviral medication such as acyclovir (Zovirax), which was approved for the treatment of herpes viral infections almost two decades ago. Studies find that taking this or other antiviral medicines early can prevent the lingering pain that often occurs after a shingles outbreak.

Ice yourself down - When the pain is bad, apply an ice pack wrapped in a small towel to the affected area for 10 minutes, take it off for 10 minutes, then reapply for another 10.

Take an antihistamine - Some people get terrible itching with shingles. If you have itching, try an over-the-counter antihistamine such as chlorphenamine. Take it at bedtime as it will help you to sleep but watch out for sedating effects the next day. Cool baths can also help.

Wrap yourself in plastic - Putting on clothes over the blisters of shingles can be incredibly painful. Try covering the area with cling film so your clothes slide over the affected skin.