Gero- skin care-chapter 13 Flashcards
What are the functions of skin?
- Protect underlying structure (heart, lungs, bones, keep out bacteria)
- Regulate body temp.
- Sensory input (vehicle for sensation)
- Store fat
- Metabolism of salt/ water
- Gas exchange (2 way gas exchange O2-CO2)
- Production of vitamin in the presence of sunlight
What is xerosis?
- Extremely dry, cracked, and itchy skin (due to dryness)
What is the most common skin problem associated with aging?
Xerosis
What causes xerosis?
decrease in epidermal filaggrin, which is a protein required for binding of keratin into macrofibrils (leads to separation of the dermal/epidermal surfaces compromising nutrients transfer between skin)
Where xerosis found?
Mostly on the legs, may affect trunk and face
What is pruritis?
Itchy skin (symptom of dry skin)
What does pruritis cause?
Skin injury secondary to scratching b/c of paper-like skin
Leads to increase risk for eczema, excoriations, cracks, and infection
What aggravates (do not use) pruritis?
perfumed detergents, fabric softeners, heat, sweating, restrictive clothing, fatigue, exercise, and medications
What systemic diseases cause pruritis?
Chronic renal failure
Biliary Disease
Hepatic disease
What interventions are done to treat pruritis?
- 60% humidity
- fluid intake (water rehydrates the skin)
- Creams, lubricants, emollients (towel-patted dry/ damp skin after bath), water-laden emulsions w/o alcohol or perfume
- Mineral oils and Vaseline
- Tepid water for bathing or sponge bathing (short durations)
- Use super-fatted soaps (dove, cetaphil, caress, Neutrogena, Oil of Olay bath washes)
- Petroleum Jelly (applied to affected areas before bed)
What is Scabies?
- Pink dots on skin that in circles things like the wrist, knee, ankles, most often around the waste no need to scrape skin (visible).
- Contagious, easily transmitted through close physical contact, intimate or casual, clothing , linen, furniture.
What causes scabies?
Sarcoptes Scabiei
How do you treat scabies?
- Treated ONCE with prescribed lotions and creams
- Clothing/Linens must be washed in hot soapy water and dried with high heat.
- Rooms must be cleaned, vacuumed, and wiped down
What is purpura?
- blood vessel have gotten fragile their thinning we do not have as much blood flow to skin so they are easier to rupture
- little purple dots seen on dorsal forearms and hands (sometimes on face and over eyelids)
Who are susceptible for Purpura?
Person on BLOOD THINNERS (anticoagulants)
What causes skin tears?
- Skin is thin and fragile
- pain, acute, accidental in nature (falls/moving pt.)
- skin shear/tears (if patient on anticoagulants they will bleed uncontrollably)
How are skin tears categorized?
Payne-Martin Classification system
How do you manage skin tears?
- Proper assessment
- Control of bleeding
- Cleanse with nontoxic solution
- Appropriate dressing
- Manage exudate
- prevention of infection/wounds
What are common preventions of skin tears?
- Non adherent dressings
- Lubricants (hypoallergenic)
- Wearing long sleeves/pants on extremities
- Use non-rinse bathing products
- Hydration/nutrition
- Use lift sheet to turn patient.
(what you put on know how to take it off tegaderm, paper tape…etc think of skin being paper thin)