Title: Aging
1Aging the Integumentary System
Content for this module provided by The John A.
Hartford Foundation, Institute for Geriatric
Nursing, Online Gerontological Nursing
Certification Review Course http//www.nyu.edu/edu
cation/nursing/hartford.institute/course/
Support for this project provided to School of
Nursing, University of Washington by the John A.
Hartford Foundation, Geriatric Nursing Education
Grant and Nursing School Geriatric Investment
Program Grant.
2Aging Integumentary Changes
- Skin
- ? epidermal dermal thickening contact area
- Flattening of epidermal/dermal junction
- ? subcutaneous fat
- ? connective tissue
- ? elasticity (thinning, loose skin, wrinkles)
- ? of melanocytes
3Aging Integumentary Changes
- Skin
- ? hair follicle density
- ? sebaceous sweat gland activity
- ? melanin
- ? immune cells
- ? vascularity, ? nerve endings
4Aging Integumentary Changes
- Nails
- Alternating hyperplasia (nail thickening) and
hypoplasia - ? growth rate
- Longitudinal ridges
- Thinner, more brittle
Dermatology Image Atlas http//dermis.multimedica.
de/doia
5Aging Integumentary Changes
- Physiological changes
- Loss of body hair
- Loss of skin pigment (? melanin)
- ? sweating
- Dry skin
- Puritis of skin (itching)
- Graying thinning hair
6Aging Integumentary Changes
Functional implications
- ? susceptibility to
- skin tears
- bruising
- shearing
- pressure damage
- blunt trauma
- ? risk of heat stroke hypothermia
- Slower healing
- ? barrier protection
- Delayed absorption of medications
- ? UV protection
- ? vulnerability of pressure points
7Aging Integumentary Changes
- Dermis
- Paler skin color, uneven pigmentation
- age spots (liver spots)
- Skin tags, xerosis (? moisture),
- actinic seborrheic keratosis
- ? wrinkling
- ? loose/slack skin, due
- to loss of connective tissue
- Fragile skin that looks paper-thin
Photo provided by the Administration on Aging at
http//www.aoa.gov/press/multimed/photos/2002/01_J
an/images_aging/photo_images_aging.asp
8Aging Integumentary Changes
- Nursing assessment
- Medical surgical hx
- Co-morbid illness/intrinsic factors
- (i.e. anemia, hypoxia, peripheral vascular
disease, low albumin) - Risk assessment Braden scale
- Nutritional status Nutrition scale
- Hydration status
- Functional status Katz scale
- Environment
9Aging Integumentary Changes
- Nursing considerations
- Potential for altered topical medication
absorption - Prevention 1st-line strategy for pressure ulcer
care - ? incidence of benign malignant growths
- Hydration, moisturizing, sun protection
- Keep dressing tape to a minimum
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