Korean J Dermatol.
2011 Feb;49(2):141-146.
The Recognition of Skin Health and Diseases in the Geriatric Population
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Korea. bellotte@hanmail.net
- 2Department of Dermatology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Korea.
- 3Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Korea.
- 4Department of Dermatology, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 5Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 6Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Korea.
- 7Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 8Department of Dermatology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.
- 9Department of Dermatology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Korea.
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
With the development of medical science and technology, the proportion of the aged in the population has significantly increased. For the same reasons, concerns regarding skin aging and skin diseases in the geriatric population has increased.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the recognition of skin health and disease in the elderly.
METHODS
On April 2009, 190 elderly persons were asked to complete a questionnaire in 5 senior welfare centers in the city of in Korea. The questions included: satisfaction with the subject's own skin; treatment-seeking behavior; knowledge and common sense about representative skin problems; efforts taken to achieve healthy skin.
RESULTS
Among the elderly, 44.74% were dissatisfied with their own skin. The most complained about skin diseases in the elderly were pruritus and xerosis. Also, interest in esthetic problems such as wrinkles and pigmentation was high. On the question of whether they visit a dermatologic clinic when they develop skin problems, 40.53% of subjects said that they visited the dermatologic clinic. However, this means that 59.47% did not visit a dermatologic clinic. A somewhat unexpected finding was that knowledge of skin diseases and esthetic problems were plentiful in the geriatric population. Among the elderly, 81.05% did something to achieve skin health such as using a moisturizer or sunscreen.
CONCLUSION
The present study contributes to our understanding of the recognition of dermatologic problems in the geriatric populations. Dermatologists and society should pay more attention to the provision of correct information and appropriate treatments for skin diseases in the elderly.
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