Protecting Your Skin From the Sun After 50

Ask a dermatologist for one anti-aging tip and the answer is almost always the same: protect your skin from the sun. Sunlight is behind most visible skin ageing, from fine lines to dark spots, and it is the leading cause of skin cancer. It is never too late to start.

Why it matters more as we age

With age, skin becomes thinner and slower to repair. Years of sun exposure add up, and the risk of skin cancer rises. Protecting your skin now helps prevent new damage and keeps the skin you have healthier and more even.

How to choose a sunscreen

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends three things on the label. Their guide to how to select a sunscreen explains each one.

• Broad spectrum. Protects against both UVA rays, which age skin, and UVB rays, which burn it.
• SPF 30 or higher. Higher numbers give a little more protection, but no sunscreen blocks everything.
• Water resistant. Useful if you sweat or swim, but you still need to reapply.

Not sure what the label means? The AAD also has a tip sheet on how to decode a sunscreen label.

Using it well

• Be generous. Most people apply far too little. Use about a shot glass for the whole body and a generous amount for the face and neck.
• Do not forget the extras. Ears, neck, chest, hands and the tops of the feet show age first.
• Reapply. Every two hours outdoors, and after swimming or sweating.
• Make it daily. Daylight reaches you through clouds and car windows.

Beyond sunscreen

Shade, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses with UV protection and lightweight long sleeves all help. Try to avoid the strongest midday sun when you can.

A simple mature-skin routine

1. Cleanse gently, without stripping the skin.
2. Moisturise, because skin produces less oil with age.
3. Apply sunscreen every morning as your final step.
4. At night, consider a gentle retinoid if your skin tolerates it, and ask a dermatologist what is right for you.

Glowing skin is not about looking younger. It is about caring for the skin you have.

Check your skin

Look over your skin regularly. See a doctor if a mole or spot changes in size, shape or colour, bleeds, or does not heal.

This article is for adults and offers general information, not medical advice. If you have any concerns about your skin or health, talk to your doctor.