Dermatologic and Mucocutaneous Disorders

As we age, our bodies go through many physiological changes. The skin and adnexal structures (hair, nail) are no exception. Although these changes are often considered a normal facet of aging, they may also predispose to disease. It is important to differentiate these “normal” changes from diseases. Skin disease is more prevalent among the geriatric population than any other age group. In fact, at least half of the geriatric population is diagnosed with at least one dermatologic condition. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the physiologic changes of the hair, nails, and skin with aging. Next, we will discuss the most common dermatologic conditions. We will provide some management recommendations to providers for their daily practice throughout the chapter.