Skin Problems That Affect Seniors — Maintaining Good Health

Skin Problems That Affect Seniors

The largest organ of the body is the skin it is the outer covering of the human body it is part of the integumentary system( and it covers about 20 sq. ft The skin keeps us safe from the elements, it regulates the body temperature, and helps us to differentiate between rough and smooth, hot and cold

The human skin is the outer covering of the body. is the largest organ of the integumentary system (definition according to the dictionary.) The integumentary system is the set of organs that form the external covering of the body and protects it from many threats such as infection, desiccation, abrasion, chemical assault, and radiation damage.

Sweat glands which part of the integumentary system excrete wastes and regulate body temperature

The skin has up to seven layers of ectodermal tissue that guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments, and internal organs.

The epidermis and the dermis are two layers of the skin. Beneath the dermis lies the hypodermics or subcutaneous fatty tissue.

The main functions of the skin are protection, regulation, and sensation. Wounding affects all the functions of the skin. The skin also enables movement and growth and protects us from the sun’s radiation.

The color of our skin comes from melanin, a compound that comes from the amino acid, tyrosine, melanin determines skin color. People with high amounts of melanin have darker skin, and people with less melanin have lighter skin.

A lack of melanin causes the autoimmune disease vitiligo. This disease vItiligo occurs when the systems become overactive and destroy the melanocytes.

There are many diseases that affect us as we age, we will look at a couple of these.

• Senile Purpura. This condition is caused by the skin becoming thin and the blood vessels and the capillaries becoming frail the appearance of this condition is purplish spots on the arms and legs.

This condition does not require treatment but some may not like the appearance and can be treated by topical retinoids this ointment thickens the skin and prevent further occurrence and can lessen the appearance.

• Venous Stasis Dermatitis — This condition happens when there is a circulation problem The valve and the veins become weak causing blood to leak in the body tissues

If this is not treated this can lead to a bigger problem, this problem usually affects people who are overweight or have a history of blood pressure

Treatment includes compression socks or dressings to help reduce the swelling and increase circulation

Elevating your legs for 15 minutes every two hours, and the use of topical ointment such as a calcineurin inhibitor to reduce the swelling redness pain, and inflammation or the medication corticosteroid

Exfoliative dermatitis is another condition that causes massive peeling of the skin making it inflamed scaly and red. Because the skin becomes dry there is usually itching and pain there may also be changes in the appearance of your nails they may become thicker and more rigid.

There can also be flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills this is caused by the widespread skin peeling which affects the internal thermometer and heat is lost due to the body unable to control the temperature of the body

Treatment for this will have to be by a DR who will give IV fluids to control any dehydration, heat loss, and nutritional deficiencies. The goal would be to reduce any inflammation and making the patient as comfortable as possible medicated creams may also be prescribed to soothe and moisten the dry and itchy skin.

SCABIES

Scabies is a very infectious disease and it is caused by a mite living under the skin. The infestation is spread among people living in a crowded home ( elderly living in crowded nursing homes)sometimes the crusting and scaling.

Scabies is frequently found in the crevices of the body like elbows, wrist area between fingers and toes the buttocks genital area under the breast in women armpits the feet and lips are usually not affected.

In the treatment of scabies, it is important that the surroundings be treated also bed linings should be washed in hot soapy water to ensure that the mites are dead

Prescribed medicated soap, ointment, and soap along with some over the counter antihistamines cream to stop the itching will be ordered for the patient and this should be used till all the symptoms of scabies be gone

.Skin cancer

Skin cancer is a very common type of cancer and according to the cell type that is affected skin cancer can be divided into three main categories

• Basal and squamous cell skin cancers – are cancers that begin in the epidermis the outermost layer of the skin. Cells that are at the top of the epidermis are squamous cells and cells at the bottom of this layer are called basal cells. 8 out of 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas, though it is rare for cancer to metastasize.
• Melanoma skin cancer – these cancers begin in cells called melanocytes, which are located in the epidermis; these cells make pigments and give the skin its color.
• • Lymphoma of the skin – these cancers begin in the lymphocytes of the skin, which are located in the base (subcutis) layer of the skin; these types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are fairly rare.
  • Signs & Symptoms of Skin Cancer IN both types of skin cancer if found early can be cured. In the case of basal and squamous cell cancer, you should look examine yourself for new skin growths, spots, or bumps that change in size or color or sores that do not seem to heal. The American Cancer Society recommends using the ABCDE rule to spot possible signs and symptoms of melanoma:

  Skin Cancer Risk Factors

• • Exposure to Sunlight (UV RAYS)
  • Being male and older
• • Having fair skin and or light-colored hair
  • Having a history of chronic moles or skin problem
  • Having skin cancer occurring in your family (primarily melanoma)

• Signs & Symptoms of Skin Cancer 

• IN both types of skin cancer if found early can be cured. In the case of basal and squamous cell cancer, you should look examine yourself for new skin growths, spots or bumps that change in size or color or sores that do not seem to heal. The American Cancer Society recommends using the ABCDE rule to spot possible signs and symptoms of melanoma:
• • Asymmetry – where one half of a mole does not match the other half
  • Border – irregular or blurred edges on a mole or birthmark
  • Color – a mole that has an uneven tone or includes patches of pink, white or blue
  • Diameter – a mole that is larger than a quarter-inch in diameter
  • Evolving – a mole or birthmark that changes in size, shape, or color
• • In the event that a suspicious mole, spot, or other skin growth is found see your doctor who will a full-body skin examination and the doctor will then decide whether to do a lymph node biopsy, Sentinel Lymph node biopsy Skin lesion biopsy, or Wide local excision.

Most skin cancer can be cured with minor surgery or removal of the skin cancer along with some surrounding healthy tissue

For good skin health

• Not smoke or quit smoking
• Never expose themselves to the sun without sunblock
• Keep properly hydrated by drinking more liquids in the event that a suspicious mole, spot, or other skin growth is found see your doctor who will a full-body skin examination and the doctor will then decide whether to do a lymph node biopsy, Sentinel Lymph node biopsy Skin lesion biopsy or Wide local excision.
  Most skin cancer can be cured with minor surgery or  removal of the skin cancer along with some surrounding healthy tissue

For good skin health

• Not smoke or quit smoking
• Never expose themselves to the sun without sunblock
• Keep properly hydrated by drinking more liquids
• Avoid hot and dry places, such as sauna
• Use a room humidifier during the cold and very dry season.
• Avoid hot and dry places, such as sauna
• Use a room humidifier during the cold and very dry season.

• Foods to add to your diet to promote a healthy skin
  Be sure to add at least 1 serving of lean protein to your diet you can get protein from foods like lean beef, chicken, turkey, eggs fish and legumes also add 2 servings of low-fat dairy.

•  Essential fats like salmon tuna sardines for Omega 3
  Iron you get Iron from red meat which is the best source of iron then there are legumes whole grains but add some vitamin c for easy absorption

•  Also, add nuts and vitamin c and lots of liquid like herbal teas and water
  Exercise is good or the skin sweating helps to clean the pores from all the built-up grime as it flushes out the pores.

Also, add nuts and vitamin c and lots of liquid like herbal teas and water

HERE IS A VIDEO OF SKINCARE FOR THE OVER 50

Exercise is good or the skin sweating helps to clean the pores from all the built-up grime as it flushes out the pores.

Here is a link for some exercises from silver sneakers. Do these for about 30 minutes per day at least 3 times per week and you should see some improvements not only in your skin but your joints as well.

Thank you so much for reading my post I hope you found it helpful and please stop by again, should you have a question or comments please leave it in the space provided at the bottom of this page and I will reply ASAPalso remember to like and share this post thanks.

NOTE:  This post includes affiliate links, which, if clicked on and a product purchased, I get a small commission (with no increase in cost to you).

https://www.facebook.com/silversneakers/videos/10156371543387432/?t=8