Blum Center Program: Aging & Skin Health - Supporting Healthy Skin Over Time

Why It Matters

By integrating daily sun protection, nutrition, and regular self‑exams, individuals can mitigate age‑related skin deterioration and detect precancerous changes early, preserving health and reducing medical costs.

Key Takeaways

• Skin aging leads to thinner, dryer, more fragile skin.
• Regular sunscreen use, SPF 30+, prevents wrinkles and skin cancer.
• Perform ABCDE skin checks to detect suspicious lesions early.
• Hydration, balanced diet, and avoiding smoking support skin health.
• Choose gentle, fragrance‑free moisturizers and mineral‑based sunscreens.

Summary

The Blum Center’s educational session, led by public‑health intern Veronica Stanche, focused on aging skin and practical strategies for maintaining healthy skin over time. The presentation covered basic skin anatomy, the integumentary system’s protective functions, and how the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis change with age. Key insights included the visible signs of aging—wrinkles, thinning, pigment spots, and dryness—especially after menopause when oil production declines. The talk emphasized daily broad‑spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+), hydration, stress management, and a diet low in excess fats and sugars while avoiding smoking to slow collagen loss and inflammation. Stanche highlighted the ABCDE E skin‑self‑exam (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving, Extra) as a simple tool for early detection of actinic keratosis and potential skin cancers. She also recommended mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and fragrance‑free, non‑comedogenic moisturizers tailored to skin type. The implications are clear: proactive skin monitoring and lifestyle adjustments can reduce the risk of cuts, infections, and skin cancers, ultimately lowering healthcare burdens for older adults and improving quality of life.

Original Description

In this presentation from April 15, 2026, Veronica Stantcheva discusses the importance of taking care of our skin as we age. She also shares how skin changes as we get older and offers helpful tips for keeping skin healthy and protected over time.