Save Your Skin
The Good News: Your skin is drier, so you're less likely to suffer from unsightly breakouts. While some women do experience menopause-related skin issues, they're usually treatable with hormone-replacement therapy.
The Not-So-Good News: You may notice your skin is more fragile, and you may have an increasing number of age spots. Consider using a prescription hydroquinone product — "the gold standard for reducing age spots," says Helen M. Torok, M.D., medical director for the Dermatology & Surgery Center at Trillium Creek in Medina, Ohio. Also, the fine lines and wrinkles that started appearing in your 50s are becoming more dramatic, especially if you smoked or sunned significantly in your younger years. One remedy: prescription retinol products like Retin-A or Renova, Torok says. These creams repair damaged skin by speeding skin cell turnover.
What's Up With That? In your 60s you may develop dilated superficial blood vessels (called telangiectasias) on the cheeks, nose, chin and legs, but don't worry: Doctors can zap them with a laser that destroys the blood vessels underneath the skin — with no scarring. Another option to help make skin look younger: a radio-frequency-emitting device, which uses heat to contract collagen and tighten the skin, without injuring the outer epidermis.
What's Ahead: In your 70s you're likely to notice a big spike in skin tags, as well as excess skin around the neck and jowl lines. Skin tags are usually benign and can be removed through freezing or cauterizing. If you are bothered by sagging skin under the jaw, consider a skin-tightening radio-frequency treatment.
Weight-bearing activities stimulate the bones to grow stronger and denser, which can protect against bone fractures and osteoporosis. — Photo by Craig Cutler
Bone Up for Good Health
The Good News: If you've been active all your life, your bones, joints and muscles can stay in pretty good shape during your 60s.
The Not-So-Good News: Aging and inactivity can lead to achy joints because of the wearing down of cartilage, loss of lubricating joint fluid and weaker muscles. Some remedies: maintaining a normal weight and strength training. Weight-bearing activities stimulate the bones to grow stronger and denser, which can protect against bone fractures and osteoporosis. Also, talk to your doctor about vitamin D and calcium supplements. The recommended dose of vitamin D for people in their 60s is 600 IU a day; for people in their 70s it's 800 IU a day. And women in their 60s need about 1,200 mg of calcium a day.
What's Up With That? Your joints may sound like snapping twigs, but those creaking and popping noises are usually not serious, unless accompanied by pain and swelling.
What's Ahead: Most knee replacements are done after age 65.
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