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Geriatrics pp 259–269Cite as

Skin diseases

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Part of the book series: Guidelines in Medicine ((GUIM,volume 1))

Abstract

Along with connective tissue changes elsewhere in the body there is degeneration of dermal collagen with subsequent thinning and loss of elasticity of the skin. Environmental factors such as sun and wind are as important as ageing itself in causing wrinkling and roughening of the exposed skin. The skin is drier due to atrophy of eccrine and apocrine sweat glands and reduced sebum excretion. Pigmentary changes are common and may be isolated or widespread, particularly over exposed areas. In addition to male pattern baldness there is, in both sexes, a loss of hair follicles with diffuse thinning of hair.

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© 1979 A. N. Exton-Smith and P. W. Overstall

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Exton-Smith, A.N., Overstall, P.W. (1979). Skin diseases. In: Geriatrics. Guidelines in Medicine, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7191-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7191-5_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-7193-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7191-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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