Study Examines Skin Diseases in Older Adults

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society of 552 adults aged 70 to 93 years found 80 percent of subjects had at least one skin disease that required treatment, reports Medical Xpress . Fungal skin infections, rosacea, actinic keratosis, and eczema were the most common reported ailments. Moreover, 39.1 percent of participants had three or more simultaneous skin diseases, and they were more frequent in males than in females. The researchers also observed fragile associations between different skin diseases and socioeconomic status and living status. "This research emphasizes the importance of whole body skin evaluations in older patients, as skin diseases are common in this age group," said the University Hospital of Oulu's Suvi-Päivikki Sinikumpu. "A whole-body skin examination may reveal hidden skin symptoms and ensures timely diagnoses and appropriate treatment."