Self-skincare knowledge and practice described by elderly persons in the mid-west of Minas Gerais

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices reported by the elderly in relation to basic care of one's skin. A cross sectional study was performed from November 2011 to August 2012 in Arcos, Minas Gerais, based on a structured questionnaire administered to 250 elderly persons, with answers statistically analyzed. Knowledge and practices of self-skincare were evaluated from the median number of ten questions answered by the elderly. Most of the sample population were women (54.8%), aged between 60 and 69 years (52.4%), with a primary education (71.6%) and working in a job where they were exposed to direct sunlight (58.0%). The majority (76.4%) said they did not use protective sun filter despite considering it important (77.6%). The use of body moisturizing creams was reported by 55.6%. An association ( p<0.05) was identified between the variables practice/knowledge and gender and practice outdoor activity. Further studies can be conducted as a result of the present research to clarify factors related to non-adherence to self-skincare, and educational measures should be put in place for the entire population, regardless of age, to prevent pathological skin aging.

Validação De Instrumento Para Cuidado Da Pessoa Idosa Com Xerose Cutânea

“…Quando submetidas ao frio, pessoas idosas apresentam maiores dificuldades no que se refere à regulação da temperatura corporal, o que leva alguns profissionais a aumentarem a temperatura da água durante a realização de procedimentos como o banho e a higiene íntima. Mesmo sendo escassas, as publicações sobre o valor da temperatura ideal têm recomendado, para o banho, uma variação entre 34° e 36°, já que a água quente resseca a pele e remove a oleosidade natural (21) .…”

Skin Tears in the Elderly

“…Once the skin has been damaged, even though it heals, the wound bed never reaches its original state of resistance to traction, becoming susceptible to new trauma 11 . In terms of nutrition, patients who presented malnutrition and hydration and low levels of serum albumin, were more prone to the appearance of lesions as the body mass index contributes to the increase in the dry characteristic of senile skin 16,20,21 .…”

Práticas De Cuidados Do Enfermeiro Na Atenção Primária À Saúde: Gestão Do Cuidado Da Pele Do Idoso

“…Chama a atenção que a hidratação da pele e o uso de água morna durante o banho destacaram-se pelos entrevistados, sendo cuidados importantes, já que configuram parte das ações necessárias para manutenção da integridade da pele e consequente prevenção de LF (26) .…”