The prevalence of skin diseases in Indonesia is high due to the tropical climate and individual care, especially among the elderly. Aging involves morphological and biochemical changes in the skin structure that make the skin thin and dry, thereby disrupting immune responses and increasing the risk of infection. Complex health issues and varied causes of infection make elderly therapy challenging. Therefore, research related to skin infections in the elderly is important. Describe profile of elderly patients with skin infections at Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient Unit Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital Surabaya in 2020-2021. A retrospective descriptive study using secondary data from medical records. Out of 184 patients, most were females (56.5%), aged 45-54 years (47.8%). Three predominant diagnoses were Furuncles & Carbuncles (5.9%), Dermatophytosis (38.6%), and Herpes Zoster (29.9%), in that order, representing bacterial, fungal, and viral skin infections, respectively. Common complaints were itching (65.5%) lasting <1 month (60.9%). Most common physical findings were erythematous efflorescence (76.6%). Most supporting examinations for viral infections were Tzanck test (9.14%), while for fungal infections were KOH examinations (53.3%) and Woods lamp examination (10.15%). In conclusion, elderly patients are more susceptible to skin infections due to intrinsic aging processes, such as decreased body function, reduced resistance to pressure and temperature changes, and skin vulnerability to trauma. Additionally, extrinsic factors, such as age-related limitations in individual capabilities or awareness, contribute to skin infection risk in the elderly. Therefore, if both factors occur simultaneously, it facilitates the process of skin disease infection in the elderly.

Skin infections

Elderly

Sensitive skin

Human and disease