Exploring the prevalence of skin tears and skin properties related to skin tears in elderly patients at a long‐term medical facility in Japan |
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| Authors: | Yuiko Koyano Gojiro Nakagami Shinji Iizaka Takeo Minematsu Hiroshi Noguchi Nao Tamai Yuko Mugita Aya Kitamura Keiko Tabata Masatoshi Abe Ryoko Murayama Junko Sugama Hiromi Sanada |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Gerontological Nursing/Wound Care Management, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;2. Department of Life Support Technology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;3. Sengi Hospital, Ishikawa, Japan;4. Sapporo Skin Clinic, Hokkaido, Japan;5. Department of Advanced Nursing Technology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;6. Wellness Promotion Science Center, Institute of Medical Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan |
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| Abstract: | The identification of appropriate skin tear prevention guidelines for the elderly requires clinicians to focus on local risk factors such as structural alterations of the epidermis and dermis related to skin tears. The aim of this cross‐sectional study is to explore the prevalence of skin tears and to explore skin properties related to skin tears in elderly Japanese patients at a long‐term medical facility. After doing the prevalence study, 18 participants with skin tears and 18 without were recruited and an evaluation of their skin properties using 20‐MHz ultrasonography, skin blotting and also Corneometer CM‐825, Skin‐pH‐meterPH905, VapoMeter, Moisture Meter‐D and CutometerMPA580 was undertaken. A total of 410 patients were examined, the median age was 87 years and 73·2% were women. The prevalence of skin tears was 3·9%, and 50% of skin tears occurred on the dorsal forearm. The changes in skin properties associated with skin tears included increased low‐echogenic pixels (LEP) by 20‐MHz ultrasonography, decreased type IV collagen and matrix metalloproteinase‐2, and increased tumour necrosis factor‐α by skin blotting. In conclusion, this study suggests that increased dermal LEP, including solar elastosis, may represent a risk factor for skin tears; this indicates that skin tear risk factors might not only represent chronological ageing but also photoageing. |
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| Keywords: | Ageing Elderly Skin blotting Skin properties Skin tears |
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