- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 140 Common geriatric emergencies
- Chapter 141 Management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
- Chapter 142 Oral health and mouth diseases
- Chapter 143 Gastrointestinal disease in the older population
- Chapter 144 Malabsorption
- Chapter 145 Constipation and faecal incontinence
- Chapter 146 Age-associated breathlessness
- Chapter 147 Anaemia
- Chapter 148 Endocrinology of ageing
- Chapter 149 Sexuality in older persons
- Chapter 150 Skin diseases more common in older adults
- Chapter 151 Common age-related eye diseases and visual impairment
- Chapter 152 Hearing impairments and their treatments
- Chapter 153 Dizziness and vertigo
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing
(p. 1157) Skin diseases more common in older adults
- Chapter:
- (p. 1157) Skin diseases more common in older adults
- Author(s):
Christophe Trivalle
and Daniel Wallach
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0150
In this chapter, we briefly survey the more common skin diseases seen in older adults. All elderly people have cutaneous lesions, and knowledge of the principles of dermatology is needed for their management, because some of these lesions have potentially severe and lethal consequences. Older people are rarely free from skin problems and a certain degree of dermatological expertise is required to distinguish between benign consequences of ageing, dermatitis requiring intervention, and life-threatening dermatoses. Older people do not usually have easy access to dermatologists. Preliminary experiments of telemedicine showed that for specific situations, such as leg ulcers or for an expert advice, remote consultations can be useful. Meanwhile, close attention and early referral may be needed to avoid unnecessary suffering.
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- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 140 Common geriatric emergencies
- Chapter 141 Management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
- Chapter 142 Oral health and mouth diseases
- Chapter 143 Gastrointestinal disease in the older population
- Chapter 144 Malabsorption
- Chapter 145 Constipation and faecal incontinence
- Chapter 146 Age-associated breathlessness
- Chapter 147 Anaemia
- Chapter 148 Endocrinology of ageing
- Chapter 149 Sexuality in older persons
- Chapter 150 Skin diseases more common in older adults
- Chapter 151 Common age-related eye diseases and visual impairment
- Chapter 152 Hearing impairments and their treatments
- Chapter 153 Dizziness and vertigo
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing