Treatment for Common Elderly Skin Issues

Ageing reduces natural oils and moisture in the skin, leading to dryness and itching (pruritus). Environmental factors, like cold weather and harsh soaps, can worsen these symptoms, which may include flakiness, tightness, and irritation. A qualified dermatologist in Singapore can recommend appropriate therapies based on the severity and cause of symptoms. Treatment options include:

• Moisturising Treatments: Emollients and hydrating creams, with ingredients like glycerin, urea, or hyaluronic acid, help retain moisture and reinforce the skin barrier. Regular applications will benefit elderly patients by increasing hydration and preventing itching.
• Prescription Topical Treatments: In severe cases, low-potency corticosteroids or anti-inflammatory creams, applied carefully to avoid thinning the skin, can relieve symptoms.

In elderly skin, eczema may worsen due to thinning skin, a weakened barrier, and immune changes. Symptoms often present as redness, itching, dryness, and occasional swelling or oozing. Treatments include:

• Corticosteroids and Anti-Inflammatories: Low-potency corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory creams can manage flare-ups and reduce inflammation, offering symptom relief while minimising side effects.
• Biologic Treatments: Biologics, like Dupixent, target specific immune pathways to control moderate to severe eczema that does not respond well to traditional therapies, providing a more targeted approach with fewer systemic side effects compared to conventional treatments. Elderly with intractable Itchy dermatitis have benefited from such a treatment. For example, reduction of itch and scratching, better sleep and less misery.
• Moisturising Regimens: Regular application of emollient-rich moisturisers with ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid helps restore and maintain the skin barrier.
• Phototherapy: For chronic or severe eczema, narrowband UVB phototherapy offers a non-invasive option to control inflammation. This is a gentle, long-term option suitable for elderly patients.

Older adults are prone to bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections due to weakened immunity and thinner skin. Causes include compromised skin barriers, poor circulation, and exposure to infections. Symptoms often involve redness, itching, swelling, or lesions, with scabies causing intense nighttime itching. Treatments include:

• Antibiotics / Antifungals: Bacterial and fungal infections may require topical or oral antibiotics or antifungals, selected based on infection severity and location. Some of these can be bought over the counter. But the potent ones are prescriptive medicine.
• Antiparasitic Therapy: Scabies and similar infestations are treated with medicated lotions or oral antiparasitics to eliminate parasites and alleviate itching and irritation.

Beside Medical treatment, it is important to follow medical advice to minimize recurring infestation.

In older adults, age spots form from cumulative sun exposure and ageing, causing excess melanin production. They appear as flat, brown patches on areas like the face, hands, and arms and are usually harmless but may be cosmetically bothersome. Treatments include:

• Lightening Agents: Prescription agents, such as hydroquinones or retinoids, can gradually fade pigmentation by reducing melanin production.
• Laser and Chemical Peel Treatments: Chemical peels remove outer skin layers to stimulate new cell growth, while laser treatments, such as the Helios III Laser, break down excess melanin without harming the surrounding skin.

Benign growths and precancerous lesions, such as actinic keratoses, become more common with age. These growths can affect appearance, cause discomfort, and, if untreated, may develop into skin cancer.

• Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and remove benign or precancerous lesions quickly and with minimal invasiveness.
• Excision: Surgical excision removes larger or suspicious lesions for biopsy to rule out malignancy. This approach is particularly useful for atypical growths.

Yes, staying hydrated and consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can support skin health. Using a humidifier, wearing soft fabrics, and avoiding hot showers also help reduce dryness and irritation. Using gentle, fragrance-free skincare products further prevents itching and preserves the skin barrier.

Family members can prevent the spread of scabies by washing clothing, bedding, and towels in hot water and drying them on high heat. Vacuuming furniture and carpets helps remove mites from surfaces, and personal items should not be shared. Close contacts should also seek treatment, even if they show no symptoms, to avoid reinfestation.

Yes, certain medications can worsen skin dryness or trigger eczema. Diuretics and statins can reduce skin moisture, leading to dryness. Some antibiotics, antihistamines, and acne treatments, like retinoids, may also dry out the skin or irritate preexisting eczema.

Yes, conditions like diabetes can slow wound healing and increase infection risk, while kidney and thyroid disorders often cause dry, itchy skin. Liver issues may also affect skin colour, leading to yellowing. Managing these conditions is necessary for improving skin health.