The skin is the largest organ on our bodies, and as we age our skin changes. Our skin becomes drier and loses moisture. It can also become increasingly thin and lose elasticity, causing it to look wrinkled and hang away from the muscles and soft tissue. For an elderly person, some important things need to be done to care for their skin properly.
Use Moisturizer
An elderly person's skin can become dry and leathery looking. It is essential to use a high quality moisturizer on the skin. You want to use a moisturizer that will soak into the skin, not simply lay on top of the skin. According to Sharon Baranoski, RN, APN, CWOCN, MSN, creams are much better than lotions because they are thicker and stay on the skin longer. This extra moisture can improve the feel and look of the skin and also helps to improve the elasticity of the skin. This can help to prevent injuries to the skin because the drier the skin, the more easily it will be torn or injured.
Long Sleeves and Pants
The elderly are at risk for skin injuries and for the skin to become easily burned by the sun. When an elderly person's skin becomes burned, it can easily blister, and this can lead to sores, ulcers and even infections. According to Pennsylvania State University, applying sun screen of SPF 15 at least twenty minutes before sun exposure is important. Also, sun screen should be reapplied if you are swimming or sweating. So, it is important to wear long sleeve shirts and pants when you are going to be in the sun for extended periods of time. Injuries can also easily occur to skin that is exposed, and this can also lead to infections that can become severe. Therefore, it is important to wear long sleeve shirts and pants instead of ones that expose limbs. Soft clothing such as cotton should be worn as opposed to harsh fabrics like linen that can rub against the skin and cause injuries to the skin from friction.
Positioning
Skin tears are a big concern for the elderly population. Skin tears can be caused by skin that is extremely thin. This type of skin tears easily and can cause open wounds to form, putting an elderly person at an increased risk for infections. Sharon Baranoski reports that an ounce of prevention can go a long way to preventing something like this from happening. If a person is disabled and bed bound, they require positioning. Teaching caregivers the appropriate technique to transfer or move a patient is extremely important in preventing skin tears. Correct positioning helps to cut down on the occurrence of skin ulcers and sores. Positioning should be done easily, and friction and shear should be avoided. For example, when using a sheet to transfer the patient, the sheet should be removed easily from underneath the patient. Also, it is very important to not push or pull delicate skin because this can also cause tears to occur.
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