Dermatologist Explains: Skincare in Your 60s and Beyond - Gentle, Protective, and Hydrating
Note: Everyone ages at a different pace. The changes described here are generalizations about what commonly happens in this decade, but for some these shifts begin earlier, and for others they happen later. Use this as a guide to anticipate changes, not as a strict timeline.
By your 60s, the hormonal shifts of menopause are behind you, but the impact on your skin continues. Collagen and elastin continue to decline, skin becomes thinner and more fragile, and dryness dominates. In addition, sensitivity increases, healing slows, and the risk of skin cancers rises. Yet, beautiful skin is still achievable, it just requires more gentle consistency and patience.
What’s Happening to Your Skin in Your 60s and What to Do About It
Ongoing Collagen and Elastin Decline Leading to Thinner, Fragile Skin
Collagen production continues to decrease and the dermis thins further. Skin tears and bruises more easily.
What to do:
1. Accept that your skin is more fragile. Protect it with clothing, moisturize daily, and be consistent with sunscreen
2. Bruises will appear all over the body for no apparent reason and take what feels like forever to resolve. This is from collagen in our blood vessels becoming more fragile. To help make them fade try Skintensive Bruise Cream. It works better than any other bruise cream I’ve tried.
3. Support collagen gently with at-home red light therapy (my favorites are Omnilux and Celluma) and oral collagen supplements. Studies have shown improvement in fine lines with as little as 5 grams a day. I put Vital Proteins in my coffee and take oral vitamin C as it is an important cofactor for collagen production.
The Skin Barrier Weakens Causing Chronic Dryness and Easy Irritation
With fewer natural oils and lipids, the skin barrier struggles to retain moisture. Products you once loved may now cause irritation.
What to do:
1. Always choose fragrance-free, thick, moisturizing formulations high in squalane like my Doctor Rogers Face Cream and Doctor Rogers Body Cream to add oils back to your skin.
2. Stick with a simple routine of quality products that truly support your skin - this is not the decade to experiment.
3. Avoid unnecessary procedures like hydrafacials, microdermabrasion, or facials with new products, which can easily cause complications.
4. Slug nightly with my Doctor Rogers Restore Healing Balm over Doctor Rogers Face Cream to maintain dewy skin after menopause.
Crepey Body Skin Needs Turnover and Support
*After 28 days of using Doctor Rogers Body Cream and Body Repair Treatment.
The arms, legs, and torso often develop a crepey texture in the 60s, driven by collagen loss, thinning skin, and slow cell turnover.
What to do:
1. Alternate body turnover and barrier support. Use my Doctor Rogers Body Repair Treatment a few nights a week to stimulate renewal, then alternate with my Doctor Rogers Body Cream, a rich, supportive body moisturizer. Be consistent. Renewal combined with hydration is the best path for smoother, firmer-looking body skin.
2. Lift heavy weights. The increased blood flow to your muscles also increases blood flow to your skin leading to an improved appearance.
3. Don’t skip sunscreen. Shoulders, forearms, and legs also show sun damage. My favorite zinc-based sunscreens are Pavise, The Outset or Dermaquest.
Healing Slows, Cuts, Scrapes and Procedure Healing Take Longer
In your 60s, cosmetic procedures still build collagen and improve skin quality, but the results take longer and your home care to aid in healing becomes more important.
What to do:
1. Sculptra can still give great results, but expect to need more vials and more time for the collagen build after each treatment.
2. Aggressive lasers (like CO₂ or Ultraclear) remain effective, but results may take months to show. If you’re considering a laser treatment, check out my blog about lasers HERE.
3. Oral collagen + HA supplements help support this process. I recommend Vital Proteins Collagen with Hyaluronic Acid or Ritual Hyacera pills. The benefits are modest but both are well tolerated and I think are worth adding.
Treat Your Face, Neck, Chest, and Hands the Same
By your 60s, the differences between your face, neck, chest, and hands are obvious if they haven’t all been cared for equally. These areas share the same exposures to sun, pollution, gravity, and now all need the same attention, the same products, and the same deep hydration.
What to do:
1. Apply your serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen equally to face, neck, chest, and hands every day.
2. Don’t downgrade your care for the body - all visible areas benefit from the same rich cream.
3. Consider lasers or IPL for pigmentation and collagen support across these areas to even tone and texture.
Decades of UV Exposure Mean Actinic Keratoses, Precancers, and Skin Cancers are More Common.
What to do:
Dermatologist visits are essential - at least annually, more often if you’ve had prior skin cancers.
Prioritize cancer prevention over cosmetic treatments. Resurfacing lasers correct sun damage and slow the development of future skin cancers while improving other signs of aging (PubMed). To learn more, I invite you to read this article.
What You Should Be Doing Every Day
Morning (AM): Treat face, neck, chest, and hands the same
- Optional Cleanser (only if oily or sweaty)
- Niacinamide or gentle antioxidant serum
- Rich Moisturizer (squalane, shea butter, plant oils, glycerin)
- Zinc Sunscreen
Evening (PM): Treat face, eyes, neck, chest, and hands the same
- Cleanser
- Gentle Night Treatment (low-strength retinoid or bakuchiol, only if tolerated)
- Rich Moisturizer
- Slugging with Healing Balm
Body Routine
Alternate daily between an exfoliating product, like Doctor Rogers Body Repair Treatment and a rich hydrator Doctor Rogers Body Cream.
Takeaway: Skincare in Your 60s Is About Support and Protection
In your 60s and beyond, skincare is about simplicity, lots of moisturization and patience. Keep your barrier strong, focus on a few, quality products and visit your dermatologist regularly for skin checks. Treat crepey body skin like you treat your face - alternate turnover treatments with barrier repair for the best results. Continue with collagen-building treatments and supplements, but set realistic expectations: results are slower and subtler. And stay strong, your skin will look good if you feel good.
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