Skin Disorder
Other Skin Diseases
Other skin diseases that are worth listing are:
- The drug-induced skin eruptions are so frequent in the elderly.
- Acne rosacea, inflammatory disorder that produces redness, prominence of superficial blood vessels, injury and sometimes pus Raised primarily in the central part of the face.
- Lichen simplex chronicus or neurodermatitis, localized thickening of the skin, caused by repeated scratching, which affects the ankle and dorsum of the foot, the front of the leg, back, neck, forearms and elbows.
- Venous ulcers due to venous insufficiency and pressure ulcers in immobilized or bedridden patients. Read the rest of this entry »
Common Skin Problems in Older People: Herpes zoster
The skin infection by the herpes zoster virus (the same that causes chickenpox in children) is a relatively common problem in the elderly that affects otherwise healthy people but can cause major problems in patients with damaged immune system.
The disease is characterized by the appearance of a red rash on the skin, usually the chest or back and less often in the face, on which sit small vesicles, very painful, in the course of a few days evolve, dry and become scabs. May be associated malaise and slight fever.
Currently the treatment is done with some specific drugs against these viruses (acyclovir and derivatives) to be administered as soon as possible to avoid complications. Read the rest of this entry »
Common Skin Problems in Older People: Itchy Skin
Skin disorders more common in the elderly
Many skin disorders affecting young and old alike. However, certain diseases, infections and tumors in the skin increase in frequency with age. Given space limitations, this article will discuss only some of them.
Itching or itchy skin
Pruritus or itching of the skin is so unpleasant sensation that causes an instinctive desire to scratch or rub. It is a very common disorder in the elderly and is usually caused by dry skin, also called xerosis.
Other times it is caused by skin disorders, such as contact dermatitis, or skin irritation by certain infections or lice, scabies or fungi. Read the rest of this entry »
Common Skin Problems in Older People: Photoaging
Aging is a process that involves many changes in the body and, of course, also in organs such as skin and its appendages. These skin changes are produced mainly by two mechanisms: an intrinsic aging or true self and the other due to the permanent exhibition, but preventable, the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which we call photoaging.
We begin by briefly describing this phenomenon and then go over the skin disorder that most commonly affect the elderly.
Photoaging
In the elderly in many countries, most of the alterations in the appearance of the skin due to chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, and skin changes are more pronounced in exposed body areas. The elderly whose lifestyle pigmentation or protect them from sunlight, often have a more youthful than the corresponding chronological age. Read the rest of this entry »
Acanthosis
Skin disorder characterized by keratotic lesions (hardened) and hyperpigmentation (darkened) located in folds. Basically one can differentiate benign and other malignant.
The latter is associated with some tumors with different clinical characteristics. The basic changes are an increase in the thickness and pigmentation of the skin, which takes on a velvety papillomatous aspect while making a gray, brown and even black.
The areas affected are the areas of flexion, more frequently the armpits, sides and back of the neck, inguinal fold, anogenital region and inframammary folds. The palms and soles may appear thickened and display a palmoplantar keratoderma. Read the rest of this entry »