A Clinical Study of Geriatric Dermatoses

In a clinical study conducted on 200 elderly patients, it was found that skin conditions in the geriatric population are diverse and include both physiological changes like xerosis (93%) and pathological changes such as skin tumors, eczemas, and infections. Pruritus was the most common complaint, reported by 44% of patients. The study also observed a high prevalence of seborrhoeic keratosis (56%), dermatosis papulosa nigra (47%), and cherry angiomas (37%). Infections and infestations were present in 32% of patients, with fungal infections being the most common at 11%. Pigmentary disorders were noted in 14% of cases, and vascular disorders in 11%. Other conditions like bullous pemphigoid, trophic ulcers, and keloids were less common. Nail changes were frequently seen, with longitudinal ridging and loss of luster being the most noted. The study highlighted the need for specialized dermatologic care for the elderly and called for more research to understand these conditions in different populations, as no malignant skin conditions were reported in this study.