Which Skin Condition Is Common In Older Adults?
Ageing is not directly related to skin conditions, but our skin becomes thinner, less oily, and less elastic as we age. These factors make our skin prone to skin diseases. The rate of ageing for your skin depends on various factors such as lifestyle, personal habits like smoking, heredity, and diet. As you age, one of the biggest causes of skin damage is sun exposure. The UV radiation from the sun causes the skin to sag, stretch, and become blotchy.
As older people are more susceptible to skin diseases, it is necessary to check your skin for any signs of rashes or other conditions to keep your skin healthy and safe. Skin conditions that affect you in older ages take longer to heal and generally do not go away without treatment.
So, let’s look at some of the common skin conditions that affect older people and their treatment and preventive measures.
4 Skin Conditions That Affect Older Adults
1. Senile Purpura
Description: Senile Purpura is a type of skin condition that generally affects older adults. As the skin becomes thinner over time, so do the blood vessels. Thinner blood vessels are more prone to disruption and bruising; this results in bruise marks commonly found on the forearms.
Symptoms: Bruise marks on different parts of the body, especially forearms. This condition does not have any links to any vitamin deficiency or bleeding disorders. However, seeking treatment is in your best interest.
Treatment: Treatment includes medically prescribed topical retinoids for improving the thickness of your skin; this helps reduce the further effects of ageing on your skin. Generally, treatment for this condition is cosmetic as it does not pose any severe harm to your health.
Prevention: Best prevention methods include using sunscreen and reducing exposure to the sun as much as possible. It can help your skin avoid any further damage from the effect of UV radiation from the sun.
2. Xerosis
Description: Xerosis is a skin condition caused by the lack of oil content in the skin. Dry skin with a lack of oil content is common in older adults who commonly suffer from this condition. The skin appears dry and flaky and generally affects areas like the lower back, arms, and shins.
Symptoms: Scaly and flaky skin in a netlike pattern in areas such as limbs, shins, lower back. It can also appear as significant red round patches, red scaly fissures.
Treatment: Improving your skin hygiene and using a thick moisturiser can help improve the symptoms of this condition. You can also use a humidifier to improve the dryness of your skin. If your condition does not improve by following these steps, you must take medical advice.
Prevention: Dietary changes such as reducing the amount of caffeine and alcohol intake can also help you prevent conditions like xerosis. Also, limiting your exposure to water by reducing the time of your showers can help.
3. Senile Freckles
Description: Senile freckles are one of the facial skin diseases that affect the elderly. This condition is caused due to the cumulative skin damage caused by exposure to the sun over the years. This condition differentiates itself from freckles as the spots caused by this condition are larger and irregularly shaped in comparison to freckles.
Symptoms: Large Brown spots on the face that resemble freckles. If the freckles are growing or becoming thicker, you should get medical help as it can be signs of cancerous growth.
Treatment: This condition can be treated medically or by surgical processes such as freezing the freckles and electrosurgery. Using certain chemical peels and skin lightening creams.
Prevention: Using sunscreen with an SPF value higher than 50 and limiting your skin exposure to the sun. You should also wear clothes that cover your skin and wide brim hats to prevent this condition.
4. Stasis Dermatitis
Description: Stasis Dermatitis is a type of skin condition that usually affects areas such as the legs. This condition is caused due to poor blood circulation in older adults. It is necessary to pursue treatment for this condition as it can have serious health hazards if left untreated.
Symptoms: Rashes usually in areas such as the ankles, legs, and feet. Symptoms also include discolouration of the skin, itching, and thickened skin.
Treatment: Medically prescribed topical creams can help reduce the symptoms. You can also use compression stockings for the treatment of this condition.
Prevention: You should avoid sitting or standing for long hours; propping up your feet while sitting can also be beneficial.
As we age, the immunity powers of our body reduce and cause different skin conditions to appear. Some of these conditions can be indicators of severe health issues and should be medically checked and treated at the earliest. This way, you can avoid any type of skin condition in the future and have healthy and supple skin throughout your life.