During our second installment of our Summer Series we had local Pharmacy Manager Kim and beauty consultant Angela from Walgreens presented on “The Importance of Summer Skin Care and the Roles Medications Play.” Our attendees enjoyed a delicious spread of brownies, fresh fruit and refreshments while learning about skin care for seniors as well as skin cancer risks and protection and prevention. Their questions were answered about the best Walgreens products for sun protection. Angela, the beauty advisor gave away free samples and detailed demonstration on the correct way to apply various creams. She also gave tips on prevention of fine lines and wrinkles. Her tips included
- Drinking a lot of water
- Using a silicone primer as your makeup base
- Using moisturizer with hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin and fight fine lines
- Products that are rich in moisture to keep skin hydrated
Kim’s tips for skin protection and prevention were:
- Wear clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun like long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats
- Stay in the shade especially during the sun rays strongest hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Wear sunglasses with UV protection
- Use SPF with level 30 and above daily
- If you sweat vigorously or go for a swim reapply your SPF protection
Choosing sunscreen for your activity level and skin type can be challenging but their suggestions for highly active and sporty seniors are to use a gel based SPF, if you are prone to break outs use oil free SPF, dry skin a creamy based SPF and for sensitive/rosacea use sunscreen with titanium or zinc oxide.
Lastly, the most important topic covered was medication and the relationship to sun sensitivities. Certain medications can make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light from the sun and can result in stinging, burning, itching, swelling and hives.
Medications that may offset these reactions:
- Antibiotics
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Blood pressure pills
- Pain medications
- Diabetes sulfonylurea drugs
If you experience these reactions:
- Take a cool bath or shower
- Take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Wear protective clothing and accessories
- Contact your doctor
To learn more visit the CDC
