Skin Hydration Status and Skin Surface pH According to the Body Parts of the Aged with Immobilization

Han, Ae Kyung; Won, Jong Soon; Kim, Ok Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to identify skin hydration status and skin surface pH according to the body parts of the aged with immobilization.
METHODS
The subjects were 101 aged patients in a hospital and a institution for the elderly in Seoul. Data for skin hydration and skin surface pH were collected using corneo-meter and skin pH-meter. The body parts of measurement were 10 parts; face, forearm, back of the hand, flank, upper abdomen, leg, back of the foot, heel, scapular, and sacrum. The data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 12.0 program.
RESULTS
Skin hydration status were relatively low especially on lower extremity and back of body, and skin surface pH of scapular and sacrum were high. There was significant negative correlation between skin hydration status and skin surface pH on the 6 body parts.
CONCLUSION
Skin hydration status and skin surface pH, especially on scapular, sacrum, and lower extremity need to be considered as important control factors for increasing skin health status of the aged with immobilization.