Psychosocial impact of skin disease in older adults

Summary: This study examines the unique psychosocial impact of skin disease in older adults, exploring its effects on mental health and social well-being, and identifying potential strategies to mitigate these challenges. A comprehensive search of the PubMed and Cochrane databases was conducted for English-language studies on skin disease in older adults published from 1995 to 2024. A total of 39 articles were included, comprising 22 cross-sectional observational studies, 4 matched cohort studies, 3 literature reviews, 2 retrospective chart reviews, 1 retrospective cohort study, 2 prospective studies, 5 meta-analyses, and 1 systematic review. Older adults with skin conditions experience disproportionately higher rates of depression and anxiety than young adults with skin disease, with prevalence reaching as high as 60%, particularly in individuals over 75. Pruritus is significantly associated with anxiety (odds ratio up to 3.69) and depression (odds ratio up to 4.27) in adults aged 45–47 years. Eczema is associated with anxiety (odds ratio of 1.15) and depression (odds ratio of 1.12) in adults over 60. Psoriasis, while weakly associated with anxiety (odds ratio of 0.4), has a strong correlation with depression (odds ratio of 5.52). Psychological resilience strategies may help mitigate these effects. While the psychosocial burden of skin disease in younger adults is well-documented, there is a lack of research on its impact in older adults. This study highlights the unique vulnerabilities of older adults with skin disease, who experience disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, and diminished quality of life. Given these unique challenges, dermatologists must closely monitor older adults for psychosocial distress and integrate multidisciplinary care approaches to improve both dermatologic and mental health outcomes. Sebastian Beller¹, Kennedy Sparling² 1. Dermatology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, Tucson, AZ, United States. 2. Dermatology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research