Therapeutic options in dermatoporosis: A case report

Dermatoporosis is a chronic skin insufficiency syndrome with typical manifestations of extreme skin atrophy, senile purpura, stellate pseudoscars, skin lacerations, and skin dissecting hematomas at the age of 70–90 years old. It is caused by aging process, and triggered by environmental factors and drugs which lead to the skin's protective mechanical function loss. The prevalence was 32% in French Hospitals and 30.7% in the Central Hospital of the University of Helsinki, Finland. We report a dermatoporosis case to raise awareness in clinical practice and trace study literature for choosing the most appropriate therapy. An 89-year-old man complained of red and itchy patches on his skin since the last six months. Physical examination shows dry skin, atrophy, purpura, stellate pseudoscars, and multiple arms and lower leg lacerations. The patient had been given ceramide moisturizer, but there is no significant improvement. Structural and functional skin damage in elderly is not just cosmetic problem. However, it significantly impacts life quality and increases morbidity and mortality risk if it develops into a serious condition. Therefore, clinicians have an essential role in proper management to prevent complications. Several studies have shown that hyaluronic acid and retinaldehyde improve skin function in dermatoporosis.