Department of Medicine for the Elderly, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Department of Dermatology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2024 Apr 30;85(4):1-8. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2023.0399.
Skin ageing is a multifaceted process impacted by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Drier and less elastic skin with declining sebum levels in older age makes ageing skin more vulnerable to various skin conditions, including infections, inflammatory dermatoses, and cancers. Skin problems are common among older adults due to the effects of ageing, polypharmacy and multimorbidity impacting not only physical health but wellbeing and quality of life. In the UK, older adults in geriatric medicine wards may present with various skin conditions. Hospitalised older individuals may have undiagnosed skin problems unrelated to their admission, making hospitalisation an opportunity to manage unmet needs. Asteatotic eczema, incontinence associated dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, chronic venous insufficiency, and cellulitis are common disorders clinicians encounter in the geriatric medicine wards. This article outlines the importance of performing comprehensive skin assessments to help diagnose and commence management for these common conditions.
皮肤老化是一个多方面的过程，受到内在和外在因素的影响。随着年龄的增长，皮肤变得更加干燥和缺乏弹性，皮脂水平下降，使老化的皮肤更容易受到各种皮肤状况的影响，包括感染、炎症性皮肤病和癌症。由于衰老、多药治疗和多种疾病的影响，老年人的皮肤问题很常见，这些不仅影响身体健康，还影响到他们的幸福感和生活质量。在英国，老年医学病房的老年人可能会出现各种皮肤状况。住院的老年人可能有与入院无关的未确诊的皮肤问题，这使得住院成为管理未满足需求的机会。干燥性湿疹、失禁性皮炎、脂溢性皮炎、慢性静脉功能不全和蜂窝织炎是临床医生在老年医学病房中遇到的常见疾病。本文概述了进行全面皮肤评估的重要性，以帮助诊断和开始管理这些常见疾病。
