Parchment skin

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The term "parchment skin" can be traced back to parchment . It consists of dried, oiled animal skin and has a wrinkled, transparent surface. This appearance is characteristic of the parchment skin , which mainly affects the elderly.

causes

In medical circles, the term “parchment skin” is not precisely defined. However, it is used to describe extremely thin, tension-free and injury-prone skin . The main cause lies in natural aging, with which there are various changes in the area of ​​elasticity and moisture supply. The older a person gets, the less pronounced the body's ability to renew cells. As a result, wound healing and the build-up of skin components such as collagen and elastin are significantly slowed down. The skin appears thinner and the subcutaneous fatty tissue decreases. The fat production of the sebum glandssinks and the skin becomes rough and dry faster. In addition to these regular aging processes, the following factors can also promote the development of parchment skin:

The more pronounced the cell defects, the more clearly the symptoms of the parchment skin become apparent.

Symptoms

The structure of the parchment skin is similar to actual parchment and appears transparent. The severe dryness and lack of elasticity can be recognized by the fact that when the skin is pressed together, a skin fold remains, which only recedes after a few seconds. This happens immediately with healthy, elastic skin. The skin is extremely sensitive and even the slightest impact can cause injuries that only heal very slowly. This should be observed especially in everyday life and when caring for elderly people in need of care. The following symptoms are also typical:

  • Blood vessels are clearly visible under the skin
  • rapid appearance of bruises, even with minimal bumps
  • bluish to gray discoloration
  • slight shine

Once the skin has assumed a parchment-like structure, this condition is irreversible. However, it can be positively influenced by proper care.

maintenance

Caring for the parchment skin primarily refers to improving the skin's feel and avoiding excessively dry skin. This is the only way to prevent the skin from becoming even more vulnerable. Water-in-oil emulsions are particularly suitable for this. These form a film of fat on the skin that reduces water loss and protects the top layer of skin. In daily personal hygiene it is also important not to expose the skin to excessive friction when washing with a washcloth or drying it.

prevention

In the prevention of parchment skin, it is particularly important to have sufficient fluid intake so that the skin can be supplied with sufficient moisture. The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends around 1.5 liters per day. But protection against bumps, bruises and bruises also plays a not insignificant role due to the poor wound healing. Falls and injuries should be prevented, especially for people who are unsteady about walking, for example by ensuring that they wear safe shoes and padding corners and edges. When treating wounds, it is important not to use self-adhesive dressings, as just peeling off a band-aid can damage the skin. Alternatively, for example, wound dressings with silicone adhesive edges can be used.

literature

  • Marianne Peters-Gawlik: Fistula care. 1st edition. Zuckschwerdt Verlag, Munich 2015, ISBN 978-3-86371-140-5 , pp. 72-79.
  • Gregor Voggenreiter, Chiara Dold: wound therapy. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart / New York 2004, ISBN 3-13-136141-7 , p. 105.
  • Christine von Reibnitz, Anette Skowronsky: Wound care from A - Z. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 2018, ISBN 978-3-662-55619-1 , p. 107.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ German Society for Nutrition. In extreme heat: Sufficient fluids for seniors . https://www.dge.de/uploads/media/DGE-Pressemeldung-aktuell-07-2015-trinken-senioren.pdf .