A Better Look at Dry Skin in the Elderly

Posted by dermcareonline on December 16, 2009 under Mature Skin, eczema |

Fact: 75% of people over the age of 64 have dry or rough skin.

In order to appropriately treat dry skin in the elderly, you need to understand what happens to the skin as you age.

As people age, the skin goes thru many changes.

• there is less blood flow to the superficial dermis (midlayer of the skin)
• the skin does not heal as well and the skin is easily broken by trauma and friction
• the skin cells don’t stck together as well (less adhesion bewtween epidermal cells)
• the sebaceous glands normally make natural oils that prevent water loss and help to lubricate the skin and hair. The substance that the oil glands or sebaceous glands secrete changes as you age.
• the rate at which old skin cells slough off (desquamation rate) is reduced 30-50%. This causes an accumulation of old skin cells on the surface, making the skin rough in the elderly.

Options to help your dry skin:

• Since the skin is easily irritated, minimize excessive contact with soaps and hot water.
• Since the skin has less effective sebum production (oils, lubrcants), moisturizing is essential. A moisturizer adds water to the skin, and has lipids to seal the water into the skin. It is best to apply a moisturizer after bathing, when your skin is still damp. Mineral oil or petrolatum like Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is very helpful. Many people can’t tolerate the greasiness of an ointment, so creams can be used instead. A cream is a water in an oil base, and is more cosmetically appealing. Avoid moisturizers that have fragrances, since the frangrance can easily irritate already dry and damaged skin.
• Since there is a decreased desquamation of skin cells on the surface as you age, you need to use a moisturizer that has an alpha-hydroxy-acid (like lactic acid-ammonium lactate) or urea. Some products are available by prescription through your doctor like Lac Hydrin 12% or Carmol 40, and some are available over the counter  at your drug store, like Carmol 20.