Sun, Sleep, and Your Skin
7. "The damage to my skin has already been done."
Just because you wallowed in the sun wearing baby oil as a teen doesn't mean you can't prevent future skin problems. "Most of your sun exposure happens before you're 18, but you continue to get cumulative damage every day, particularly during the midday hours," says dermatologist Diane Madfes, MD, of New York City. "All it takes is a few minutes of exposure a day. That's what leads to basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinoma, the two most common types of skin cancer." Not to mention premature lines and wrinkles.
Every day, skin cells die and new ones grow, which helps the skin repair itself. But that won't happen as efficiently if you absorb too many ultraviolet rays. Using a moisturizer or foundation with sun protection can be a safeguard, provided you apply enough of the product. "You need a teaspoon to a tablespoon on your face and neck, and wear at least an SPF 15," Madfes says. For the beach or any prolonged exposure, she recommends sunblocks containing mexoryl, a new ingredient that offers the most complete UVA and UVB sun protection. Annual skin checks are also a must, since mutations from prior sun damage can take 30 years to appear.
8. "My body can function on a few hours' sleep."
Over-40 women face a number of sleep obstacles: insomnia, frequent nighttime awakening, a snoring partner. "As we get older, our sleep quality deteriorates," says Carol Ash, DO, director of the Sleep for Life Center at Somerset Medical Center, in Hillsborough, New Jersey. "People think they need less sleep as they get older, but we're genetically programmed for a certain amount; that doesn't change." She notes that studies link sleep deprivation to weaker immune systems, obesity, and diabetes.
Menopause is also a major sleep disrupter (which you already know if you've ever been awakened by a hot flash). And over-40 women are more prone to sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.
Take sleep seriously, which means reserving your bedroom as a sleep sanctuary as much as possible. How will you know if you're actually getting enough sleep? You won't be over reliant on caffeine and alarm clocks, for starters.
