It’s common to focus on the face when trying to combat the aging process. Yet, there are four other areas of the body that might be aging you. So, heed the old children’s song and make sure your skin care regimen pays special attention to your head, shoulders, knees, and toes.
Head
For the head we’re specifically talking about hair and aging. It’s not just the color of hair that changes with age, but also the texture. With age, hormonal changes occur, and hair can become thin, dry, and/or brittle. For dry hair, use a moisturizing conditioner when you wash it. For added moisturizing benefit, place a very small amount of your all-natural facial moisturizer on your hands and rub it through dry hair before styling. Also, be sure you are taking in healthy skin vitamins, such as biotin, either through food or supplements. Such nutrients will help to promote healthy hair growth, as well.
Shoulders
With age, people often begin to slouch. There can be many reasons for this. Women, especially, can be susceptible to a hunched posture due to osteoporosis—a condition that results in thinning, brittle bones. Osteoporosis, or pre-osteoporosis, can be addressed through a diet rich in calcium, calcium supplements, and weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, dancing. or lifting weights. Because bones are made up of living tissues, these types of exercise stimulate our bodies to produce more tissue as the bones accommodate the weight-bearing activity. Along with bone health, exercise can help to build muscle and also improve posture overall.
Knees
As part of the aging process, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin. These two proteins provide firmness and suppleness to our skin. The sagging skin that can come with aging can be particularly evident around our joint areas, such as our knees and elbows. Moisture is key to helping the skin in these areas look healthier and smoother. Stay hydrated and apply extra moisturizer on knees and elbows. Also, use an exfoliant regularly on these areas to help combat scaly, dry skin and promote younger-looking, healthy skin.
Toes
Few things give away a person’s age faster than the feet and hands. Make sure you are keeping these areas exfoliated and moisturized. Keep nails healthy and trimmed. Remember to use sunscreen on feet and hands when they are exposed to sun, and take care to treat them well. Wear good shoes when going on long walks and wear protective gloves when doing housework.
