
6 Most Common Skin Diseases in the Elderly
As we age, many skin problems come to the elderly. You must have seen bulging veins, wrinkles and other problems on their skin. The skin renews and repairs itself throughout life. In the lower layers, new cells are produced and slowly move towards the surface of the skin. During this time, the surface cells of the skin die. Aging slows down this process and the dead cells remain on the surface of the skin for a longer period of time. Finally, we will see the flaking of the skin. This is just a part of the skin problems that arise with aging. If you have any questions about common skin diseases in the elderly and how to control this process and the problems that arise from it, read this article from humanhealthmag.
Common Skin Disorders in the Elderly
There are many skin diseases that occur in people of all genders as they age and enter the old age period. There are blisters on the body, itchy skin in the elderly, bacterial infections, and many other diseases. In the following, we will try to explain the most important and common types of these skin diseases in the elderly to you, our dear ones. Some diseases will definitely be more prevalent in nursing homes. What diseases in the nursing home setting are common among residents?

Skin Bruising Most Common Skin Diseases in the Elderly
One of the problems that most elderly people experience is bruising of the skin. Anticoagulant drugs are one of the cases that play a major role in the occurrence of this phenomenon. These drugs are usually prescribed to cardiovascular patients to prevent blood clotting. Sometimes, bruising of the elderly body is caused by hitting objects inside the house. Some bruises are also caused by intra-tissue bleedings that cause serious injuries to the elderly.
Dry, Itchy Skin in the Elderly
Another common skin diseases in the elderly that affects seniors is dry skin (xerosis). As we age, the skin produces less oil. The reduction in skin oil causes more water to be excreted through the skin, resulting in dryness. Sometimes these problems are caused by diseases such as diabetes or kidney disease, and in some cases, the use of certain medications leads to such problems. Dry skin usually occurs in the arms, legs, and elbows and becomes more severe in autumn and winter, where it can turn into skin eczema. Increased stress, smoking, staying in the sun for a long time, and not drinking enough fluids are also causes of dry and itchy skin in the elderly.

How to treat
- Consider a suitable program to care for their skin.
- Include more fluids and water in the elderly’s diet
- Prohibit the elderly from consuming caffeine.
- Include the use of a moisturizer and lotion suitable for the elderly in his/her daily routine.
- Use a humidifier to increase the humidity in the elderly’s room.
- Note that sometimes the use of soap, perfume, and hot baths can aggravate dry skin.
- If you feel the dryness of the skin is abnormal, it is better to consult a dermatologist.
Skin Wrinkles Common Cutaneous Disorder in Seniors
The reason for the elasticity of the skin is the collagen in it, which breaks down with age and the elasticity of the skin is also lost. With the loss of collagen, wrinkles appear on the skin. This inevitably happens to everyone and cannot be prevented. Some habits such as smoking, environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays from the sun and gravity and nutrition are also effective in it.
For this reason, it is recommended to have a healthy diet from a young age, use sunscreen and drink enough fluids. These things only delay the loss of collagen and do not prevent collagen from being lost. On the other hand, do not pay attention to advertisements that offer different solutions to eliminate wrinkles because most of them are ineffective, painful or accompanied by side effects.

Age Spots: Flat Brown, Gray, or Black Spots on the Skin
Another skin problem experienced by the elderly is age spots, also known as liver spots. These spots appear without bumps, flat brown, gray, or black in color. They are usually seen after the age of 50 on areas of the body such as the back and legs, on the hands, face and arms. The reason for their appearance is excessive exposure to sunlight and aging. When the elderly are exposed to sunlight for a long time, melanin production increases. The accumulation of melanin causes liver spots to appear. Age spots are usually painless and harmless. They will not disappear after removing sunlight and not being exposed to it.

Skin Lumps Another Common Skin Diseases in the Elderly
Skin lumps are a type of benign skin tumor, consisting of nerve cells, collagen, fat cells, etc. They appear as raised, skin-colored lumps and occur in various areas of the body, such as the groin, neck, under the breasts, on the eyelids, under the armpits, and upper chest. They gradually grow in size and their diameter varies from 1 mm to 1 cm. Some people have skin lumps as large as 5 cm in diameter. Skin lumps, like age spots, are harmless and have no complications, but if their presence bothers the elderly, they can visit a doctor and ask him to remove them.
Skin Cancer in the Elderly
One of the most common cancers in the world is skin cancer, which is more likely to affect the elderly. Like most skin problems, the main cause is sunlight. Tanning rooms and sunlamps can also lead to skin cancer. Skin color does not make a difference in developing the disease, but people with light skin are more likely to develop it. If skin cancer is diagnosed early, it is more likely to be controlled and treated. For this reason, it is better to examine the skin of the elderly.
In this examination, the person should look for spots and moles that have recently appeared. The head and neck area, between the fingers, feet, back of the knees, soles of the feet and even the groin area should be examined. Moles and spots caused by cancer have symptoms such as redness, swelling, abnormal sensitivity to pressure and touch, itching, oozing, etc. In your opinion, what are nursing home infections that are common among nursing home residents?
Skin Care and Aging
The question that arises is how older adults should take care of their skin or minimize the complications of skin problems. The answer is that common skin diseases in the elderly do not occur suddenly, and they should start taking care of their skin from their youth. Things that are effective in skin health and preventing skin problems include:
Protecting the skin against sunlight
If it is recommended to limit the time of exposure to sunlight, it does not mean that you should not leave the house and deprive yourself of being exposed to it. Rather, you should only avoid being exposed to sunlight during peak sun hours, or at least be exposed to it with more protection. The sun is one of the main causes of wrinkles, skin spots, cancer and many other skin problems.
- Try to stay away from the sun from 10 am to 4 pm in the summer.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15 and renew it every 2 hours.
- Wear covered clothes, sun hats and gloves.
- Simultaneous exposure to water and sun can cause sunburn; so when you are in a lake, sea, pool or ocean, take care of your skin.
Do not smoke
One of the things that damages the skin of the elderly is smoking. Smoking increases skin wrinkles and makes it look older. The reason for this is the effect of smoking on the collagen and elastin of the skin. On the other hand, they increase the risk of developing skin cancers, especially squamous cell skin cancer. In this way, if you are a smoker, but skin health is more important to you, you should quit smoking.
Healthy nutrition
Skin health can also be largely dependent on nutrition. Consumption of vegetables, grains, lean proteins and consumption of fluids also affect skin health. On the other hand, drinking fluids, especially the right amount of water daily, has a great effect on skin rejuvenation.
Stress control
Everyone experiences stress in their lives, but it should be controlled for the health of the body and mind. If an old person experiences a lot of stress, in addition to physical and mental problems, you should also expect skin problems in him. Try to keep the home environment calm and avoid putting the elderly in stressful situations. In these circumstances, the companion of the elderly can play a significant role in controlling the stress of the elderly.
Concluding Remarks
Many skin problems, from low to high risk, lurk in the elderly. Family members may see the effects of cancer on the elderly’s skin, but due to lack of expertise or ignorance, they may ignore it. In many cases, common skin diseases in the elderly develop in parts of the body that they do not expect and they or the elderly do not check it.
The elderly need special skin care because their skin is thin and dry and bacteria can enter. The skin should be taken care of to prevent excessive drying of the skin, so hot baths as well as frequent showers should be avoided. Avoid using soap or use only mild soap. If the skin is dry, a moisturizing cream should be used after bathing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What causes blisters on the body of the elderly?
Blisters on the body of the elderly are one of the most common skin diseases of the elderly, which are caused by various reasons such as dry skin and infection.
What commonly occur in the skin during aging?
Thinning, sagging, wrinkling and the appearance of age spots, broken blood vessels and areas of dryness are age-related skin conditions seniors that are inevitable.