Dermatology Features

A holistic approach is required when managing for skin conditions in vulnerable older adults, taking into account their frailty, cognitive impairment, multimorbidity and ability for self-care. This article discusses the challenges of managing skin disease in dementia and a case of erythroderma.

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune skin condition that normally occurs in the older patient with a mean age of onset of 80 years. This article was the joint winning entry for the British Society for Geriatric Dermatology Kligman Essay Competition.

Contact dermatitis is inflammation of the skin in response to an external stimulus acting as either an allergen or an irritant. This article was the winning entry for the  British Society for Geriatric Dermatology Kligman Essay Competition in 2019.

Shingles is becoming increasingly common. This article looks at the symptoms, triggers and treatment, and asks practitioners can do to support patients with this condition.

Emollients are an important treatment option for a number of skin conditions. This article provides an overview of their mode of action, and their usefulness in relieving symptoms of skin disease

Psoriatic arthritis is a relatively common condition, with about 20% of people with psoriasis developing the condition. This article looks at the symptoms, diagnosis and management in primary care.

Psoriasis is associated with a significant impairment of quality of life, including work, family, sexual relations as well as physical and emotional well-being. This article looks at how psoriasis can be managed in primary care.

Skin changes abound in the older generations and an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology will assist with decisions in management. As life expectancy increases so will the number of ageing patients presenting to skin clinics.

The reduction in oestrogen levels during the menopause has a detrimental impact on the skin, which could be corrected to some degree through the use of HRT. This article looks at the evidence around HRT and whether it has a role to play in maintaining healthy skin. 

Our patients’ skin biology undergoes several changes with advanced age, including thinning of the epidermis, reduced cell turnover, and vascular flow, which leads to more fragile skin vulnerable to trauma and poor wound healing. Age should not deter from offering gold-standard treatments.