A Clinico- Epidemiological Study of Geriatric Dermatosis in Tertiary Care Centre, Ujjain

Introduction: Ageing is a biological reality which has its own dynamics which is beyond human control. A person aged 60 years or above is defined as “Elderly”. Geriatric health care has been considered as an emerging issue due to increase in life expectancy. Cutaneous lesions are more common among the elderly due to ageing, which causes a decline in the function of the skin. Objectives: 1) To determine the clinical pattern of Dermatological disorders and their prevalence in Geriatric population. 2) To offer geriatric population timely care and treatment. Materials and Method: The present study was Hospital-based Cross-sectional Observational study, conducted in Dermatology Department at R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain over a period of one and a half year. A total of 110 cases with age 65 years and above who presented in our OPD/IPD were chosen as study group. Results: Out of 110 patients studied 87 (79.1%) were males and 23(20.9%) were females. Generalized pruritus was the single commonest symptom noted in this study (34.5%). Xerosis was the commonest physiological change observed in (87.27%).Among pathological changes Eczema was the commonest (32.73%). Greying of hair (82.73%) was the commonest hair change and vertical ridging of nails (52.3%) was the commonest nail change observed. Conclusion: The present study reveals that skin problems are quite common among elderly. They develop wide variety of physiological and pathological skin changes. A thorough knowledge of physiologic and pathologic skin changes in the geriatric population can strengthen the dermatologists hand in the management of such cases.