Korean J Dermatol.  2013 Jan;51(1):1-7.

A Survey on the Prevalence of Dermatologic Diseases and Skin Care Patterns in Elderly Outpatients at an Endocrinology Clinic

• Sim JH
• Lee JS
• Lee SY
• Kim SJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Advances in medicine and improved overall standard of living have brought people's attention to living a long healthy life. As a consequence, geriatric medicine is now gaining more and more attention in the field of medicine and dermatology is no exception.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine features of the elderly in terms of the prevalence of dermatosis and general and medical skin care patterns.
METHODS
A detailed survey and complete physical examination were performed on 525 patients aged over 65, who were treated at the endocrinology center at our hospital, from January to December 2011.
RESULTS
The elderly gained most information on dermatologic diseases from their families and neighbors. The most common dermatologic disorder was senile lentigo (85.5%), followed by seborrheic keratosis (69.0%), xerosis cutis (63.0%), generalized pruritus (42.3%), onychomycosis (30.3%), and cherry angioma (26.9%). Furthermore, xerosis cutis was more often found in older patient groups among the elderly. When it comes to general skin care, one third of the elderly used moisturizers and 10.7% used sunscreens. Only 1.3% of the elderly received medical skin care.
CONCLUSION
This study can be used as useful baseline data not only for the government to formulate a national health care plan but for each medical center to understand dermatologic disorders of the elderly and educate its staff members on the management of dermatologic problems of the elderly.

Keyword

Dermatologic disorders; Elderly; Skin care

MeSH Terms

Aged
Delivery of Health Care
Dermatology
Endocrinology
Hemangioma
Humans
Keratosis, Seborrheic
Lentigo
Onychomycosis
Outpatients
Physical Examination
Prevalence
Prunus
Pruritus
Skin
Skin Care
Skin Diseases
Socioeconomic Factors
Sunscreening Agents
Sunscreening Agents