Xerosis Cutis in the Aging Population: an Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment

Purpose of Review The goal of this paper is to identify risk factors for dry skin in the elderly as well as to outline a treatment approach to xerosis in the elderly population. Recent Findings Females and those with darker skin types are at higher risk for dry skin. Certain medications such as diur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurrent geriatrics reports Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 206 - 209
Main Authors Lacy, Frank, Ziemer, Carolyn
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.12.2020
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Aging
Allergens
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diuretics
Geriatrics/Gerontology
Invited Commentary
Lipids
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Neurology
Pain Medicine
Parasitic diseases
Patients
Pruritus
Psychopharmacology
Rheumatology
Skin care products
Topical Collection on Dermatology and Wound Care
Xerosis
Dry skin
Pruritus
Elderly
Itching
Moisturizer
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Summary:Purpose of Review The goal of this paper is to identify risk factors for dry skin in the elderly as well as to outline a treatment approach to xerosis in the elderly population. Recent Findings Females and those with darker skin types are at higher risk for dry skin. Certain medications such as diuretics and statins also are associated with higher incidence of xerosis. Ceramide-containing moisturizers help to play a protective role. Summary A detailed medication review is warranted for all patients with dry skin. In the elderly, xerosis is a result of a complex interplay of genetic, behavioral, and comorbid factors. Prior to treatment for xerosis cutis, evaluation for an underlying primary inflammatory disease of skin should be ruled out.
ISSN:2196-7865
2196-7865
DOI:10.1007/s13670-020-00333-7