A Survey on the Prevalence of Dermatologic Diseases and Skin Care Patterns in Elderly Outpatients at an Endocrinology Clinic.
- Author:
Ji Hoon SIM
1
;
Jong Suk LEE
;
Sung Yul LEE
;
Sang Jin KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Cheonan, Korea. dermsung@schmc.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Dermatologic disorders;
Elderly;
Skin care
- MeSH:
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
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2013;51(1):1-7
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
