Skin Disease in the Elderly

With the advance of socioeconomy and medical sciences, the elderly population has been significantly increased in size. Accordingly, the provision of health care for elderly people is drawing more and more attention, especially in advanced countries, and disease of the skin is no exception. Elderly patients visit dermatology clinics with a wide variety of skin problems. Clinically significant skin changes warranting medical attention in elderly patients may result from an interplay between several factors: intrinsic aging, photoaging, cutaneous consequences of ageing or age-related disease in other organ systems, social circumstances, physiological problems, and increasing physical frailty. It is hard to estimate the prevalence of skin disease in general population, let alone specifically in the elderly. Most importantly the clinical decision-making between physiological and 'truly' pathological becomes more difficult with advancing years. Common dermatologic diseases in the elderly population include: generalized pruritus, xerosis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, seborrheic keratosis, senile lentigines, actinic keratosis, herpes zoster, tinea pedis, onychomycosis, psoriasis, urticaria, drug eruption, and senile purpura. It is clear that dermatologic problems are very common in the elderly, and appropriate management is important.