Promotion of Physical Comfort

Skin Health for Seniors

The largest organ in the body, the skin, needs to be taken care of by elderly individuals.
Our skin ages and changes. It gets thinner, dryer, and less elastic over time. Additionally, older
skin heals and sustains injuries more slowly. Adults who are aging are more likely to experience
skin issues, which can range from modest dryness, scaling, and itching to serious infections and
ulcerations. A severe skin infection or a wound that won't heal in an aged person might be
harmful or even fatal.

Common Skin Conditions in Older Adults

 Senile Purpura: Purplish spots that appear most often on the arms and legs due to
thinness of the person's skin and frailty of the capillaries and blood vessels just below the
surface.
 Stasis Dermatitis: Dry, itchy skin, which is more common in elderly women than men.
 Exfoliative Dermatitis: A more severe form of dermatitis, it is characterized by
excessive peeling and shedding of skin, which is of particular concern in the elderly
because the severe itching can lead to infections.
 Skin Infections/Infestations: Bacterial infections and parasitic infestations such as
scabies or ringworm.
 Cancerous and noncancerous skin growths: Benign neoplasms or skin growths like
seborrheic keratoses, often referred to as “skin barnacles.”
 Viral skin disorders: Examples include shingles and herpes zoster.

Good Skin Health for Seniors

The elderly typically require particular skin care because their skin is so thin and dry as
they age. Their skin can split and have dermatitis if it gets too dry, which allows bacteria to get
under it and cause an illness. Elderly people ought to:
 Don't take hot baths or take plenty of showers.
 After each shower or bath, gently moisturize the skin using only mild soaps.
 Seniors who are bedridden should be turned frequently to prevent pressure ulcers and bed
sores.
 Catheters should be changed often, too.
 Seniors should also: in order to support healthy skin health
 Stop smoking.
 When outdoors in the sun, always wear sunscreen.
 Regularly sip on liquids to maintain optimum hydration.
 In dry locations and throughout the winter, use a room humidifier.
 Stay away from hot, dry environments like saunas.