INTEGUMENTARY

CHANGES OF THE
AGING ADULT
FUNCTIONS OF THE SKIN

• Contains nerve receptors that allow you to feel touch, pain, and pressure
• Helps control fluid and electrolyte balance
• Helps control your body temperature
• Protects you from the environment
LAYERS OF THE SKIN

• The outer part (epidermis) contains skin cells, pigment, and proteins.
• The middle part (dermis) contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and oil glands. The
dermis provides nutrients to the epidermis.
• The inner layer under the dermis (the subcutaneous layer) contains sweat glands, some
hair follicles, blood vessels, and fat.
THE SKIN

• To most people, the condition of the skin, hair, and connective

tissue collectively represents the ultimate indicator of age”.
(Kart & Kinney, p. 74)
WRINKLING

• Muscles of the face are capable of tremendous movement. “Smiles,

laughter, frowns, disappointment, ager, rage, and surprise are all recorded.
The hand of time captures these expressions and outlines them on the
face….By the age of 40, most people bear the typical lines of their
expressions.” (Kart & Kinney, p. 75)
• Atrophic changes in sweat glands
• Thickened fingernails & toenails
• Generalized loss of body hair and head hair
• Decrease in # of functioning pigment-producing cells-->graying
• Some remaining pigment cells enlarge--> “age spots”
• Skin changes increase. vulnerability to infections/disorders