Pattern of Nail and Hair Disorders in the Elderly at a Tertiary Health Center

The study conducted at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital examined 126 patients aged 60 and above for nail and hair disorders. It found that 30.1% of the participants had nail changes, with a higher prevalence in males (68.4%) compared to females (31.6%). Most nail changes were observed in the lower limb digits. Hair disorders were less common, affecting 4.8% of the patients, with alopecia being the only complaint. Types of alopecia included traction alopecia, patchy alopecia, and androgenic alopecia, each affecting 1.6% of the participants. The study concluded that a variety of hair and nail disorders were present in the elderly, with fungal infections having a negative impact on hair, nails, and skin.