A Survey on the Prevalence of Dermatologic Diseases and Skin Care Patterns in Elderly Outpatients at an Endocrinology Clinic / 대한피부과학회지

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.