The High Prevalence of Skin Diseases in Adults Aged 70 and Older

August 2020 in “ Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ”

Suvi‐Päivikki Sinikumpu, Jari Jokelainen, Anna Karoliina Haarala, Maija‐Helena Keränen, Sirkka Keinänen‐Kiukaanniemi, Laura Huilaja

tinea pedis onychomycosis rosacea actinic keratosis asteatotic eczema athlete's foot nail fungus sun spots dry skin eczema

TLDR Most adults over 70 have skin diseases needing treatment, with men more affected than women.

The study investigated the prevalence of skin diseases in Finnish adults aged 70 to 93, involving 552 participants. It found that nearly 80% of these adults had at least one skin disease requiring further treatment or follow-up, with 39.1% having three or more simultaneous skin diseases. Men were more commonly affected than women. The most prevalent conditions were tinea pedis (48.6%), onychomycosis (29.9%), rosacea (25.6%), actinic keratosis (22.3%), and asteatotic eczema (20.8%). The study also noted some associations between skin diseases and socioeconomic status and living conditions, highlighting the importance of whole-body clinical skin examinations for accurate diagnosis.