Definition
Skin changes in old age include normal age-related processes as well as pathological changes of the skin to be treated.
Introduction
The organ skin is exposed to many stresses and strains day after day. Over the decades, aging processes of the entire body occur, which first become visible on the skin.
Causes of skin changes in old age
External and internal influences affect the skin. Among the external ones are: Internal influences on the skin’s appearance in old age:
- UV radiation
- Climate
- Mechanical Friction
- Cigarette and alcohol consumption
- Hormones, especially the sex hormones, whose levels decrease with age.
- The immune system and
- The cardiovascular system, which is responsible for the blood circulation of the skin.
- Reduction of the skin’s own acid mantle, so that skin infections such as skin fungus occur more quickly. The skin becomes thinner and loses elasticity.
- Sebaceous glands restrict their function so that the skin becomes drier.
- The subcutaneous fatty tissue also degrades.
Symptoms of normal skin aging
Skin atrophy – this means that the skin becomes thinner, wrinklier and less resistant with age. Delayed wound healing – as all processes of the body take place more slowly with age, the body also needs longer for wound healing. The risk of wound healing disorders after operations is therefore somewhat increased.
Skin exerosis – means dry and scaly skin. This is caused by a drying up of the sebaceous gland function. Loss of hair in old age – caused mainly by hormonal changes, the hair becomes thinner.
Nail dystrophy – nail growth also decreases, brittle nails and a tendency to nail fungus can occur. Purpura senilis – vascular fragility leads to reddening of the skin. Aging wart (seborrheic keratosis) – bulbous, usually brownish benign skin growth.
- Skin atrophy – this means that the skin becomes thinner, wrinklier and less resistant with age.
- Delayed wound healing – as all processes in the body take place more slowly with age, the body also needs longer for wound healing. The risk of wound healing disorders after operations is therefore somewhat increased.
- Skin exerosis – means dry and flaky skin. It is caused by a drying up of the sebaceous gland function.
- Loss of hair in old age – caused mainly by hormonal changes, the hair becomes thinner.
- Nail dystrophy – nail growth also slows down, brittle nails and a tendency to nail fungus can occur.
- Purpura senilis – vascular fragility causes redness of the skin
- Age nipple (seborrheic keratosis) – bulbous, usually brownish benign skin growth.
- Age spots – pigmentation spots, especially on the face and back of the hands
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