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Skin infections and ageing

Simone Laube1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Central Out-Patients, Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7PA, UK. slaube@doctors.org.uk

Ageing Research Reviews
|May 28, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Elderly individuals are more prone to diverse skin infections, including bacterial, viral, and fungal types. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key for successful outcomes in older patients.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Elderly individuals exhibit increased susceptibility to skin infections due to age-related physiological changes and environmental factors.
  • Skin infections in older adults can present atypically or exacerbate existing chronic skin conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of common skin infections in the elderly.
  • To detail the clinical features, diagnostic methods, and management strategies for these infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic skin infections in the elderly.
  • Description of clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

  • Common infections include cellulitis, erysipelas, impetigo, herpes zoster, dermatophytosis, candidiasis, and scabies.
  • Atypical presentations and complications are frequent in elderly patients.
  • Treatment efficacy relies on accurate diagnosis supported by diagnostic tests.

Conclusions:

  • Skin infections in the elderly are diverse and require careful diagnosis and management.
  • Tailored treatment based on diagnostic results ensures favorable outcomes for most elderly patients.

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