The
Oxy Solution Review The skin undergoes many physiological changes
associated with normal aging. A lifetime of excessive sun exposure,
systematic diseases, poor nutrition, and certain medications, such as
antihistamines, diuretics, can enhance the range of skin problems and
the rapidity with which they appear. The outcome is an increasing
vulnerability to injury and to certain diseases. Skin problems are
common among
older
people.
Before
conducting a skin assessment, the nurse needs to be aware of
significant changes that occur with aging. The major changes in the
skin of older people include dryness, wrinkling, uneven pigmentation,
and various proliferative lesions. Cellular changes associated with
aging include a thinning at the junction of the dermis and epidermis.
This results in fewer anchoring sites between the two skin layers, so
that even minor injury or stress to the epidermis can cause it to
shear away from the dermis.
This
phenomenon of aging may account for the increased vulnerability of
aged skin to trauma. With increasing age, the epidermis and dermis
thin and flatten, causing wrinkles, sags, and overlapping skin folds.
Loss of the subcutaneous tissue substances of elastin, collagen, and
subcutaneous fat diminishes the protection and cushioning of
underlying tissues and organs, decreases muscle tone, and results in
the loss of the insulating properties of fat.
Cellular
replacement slows as a result of aging. As the dermal layers thin,
the skin becomes fragile and transparent. The blood supply to the
skin becomes fragile and transparent. The blood supply to the skin
also changes with age.
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