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Dear Advice Doctor,

About a year ago our beloved next door neighbors put their house up for sale and moved to Florida. Our new neighbors seemed nice enough at first, but in the past couple of months they have gotten extremely cranky about anything and everything. They are so thin-skinned that the tiniest thing will launch them into a tirade that might last for a week. They called the cops on me one time for washing my car! We’re actually thinking of moving, but I wonder if you have any peace-keeping ideas first.

Dear Home,

By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers. If you live beyond the Aiken-Augusta area, or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house!

I’m glad that you chose The Advice Doctor for information and advice. The number of people facing the same problem you are grows literally by the day, so it’s an important issue to address.

The simple fact is that all of us are getting older. There’s no getting around that fundamental truth. Over time, just about everything in the body changes, and that certainly includes the largest organ in the body, our skin.

While you don’t specify how old your new neighbors are, describing them as “thin-skinned” is a clear indication that they’re getting up in years, and as such, thin skin is to be expected.

Older adults can simply bump their hand lightly against something, or reach between the cushions of their couch, and come away with broken skin.

— Home Cooking +

As we age the skin cells of our epidermis, the skin’s outermost layer, grow thinner. The number of cells called melanocytes (that is, the ones containing pigment) becomes smaller, leading to skin that seems more and more translucent. Blood vessels just below the surface are more fragile and have less protection from the skin to boot, which can lead to bruising. Finally, glands that provide oils that lubricate the skin are fewer and less active, leading to drier skin that’s easier to injure.

Despite the claims of cosmetic companies, there is no way to stop the aging process, but it can certainly be slowed down with a few prudent steps: Protect your skin from prolonged sun exposure using clothing and sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Use poisturizers to keep skin hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout every day, and enjoy a balanced diet that includes olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, and foods righ in vitamin A. Thanks again for writing. I hope I answered your question. Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.