Skin Care for the Elderly

Seniors have thinner, more delicate skin, and incontinence and a sedentary lifestyle can easily lead to skin breakdown. Experienced caregivers offer their best suggestions for maintaining skin integrity and health.

Scabies is a common skin condition in long-term care facilities like nursing homes and assisted living communities. The resulting rash can be extremely uncomfortable, and may take multiple rounds of treatment to get rid of the parasites.

Seniors who refuse to stop picking at their skin can create open wounds, infection, and scarring. There may not be an obvious reason or cure for this behavior, but there are underlying triggers that can be addressed.

Common skin conditions in the elderly like dryness and bruising can be bothersome, but they can also point to more serious underlying health problems. Knowing what symptoms to look for and how to treat them can help you maintain a senior’s skin integrity.