The integumentary system consists largely of the skin and other body components that occupy the three layers of the dermis. The skin is the largest organ in the body and thus the healthiness of the integumantary system is crucial to the normal body functionalities. Older adults usually develop several complications with regard to the integumentary system. Thus it is important to have a defined, modularized and standardized approach towards addressing those integumentary issues to avert further complications that could arise in other body organs as s result of the integumentary complications. There are several characteristics that the skin exhibits as a result of old age. They include reduced vascularity and thickness of the dermis, degeneration of elastic fibers, flattening of the dermal-epidermal junction, reduced melanocytes and decline in growth rate of hair and nails among others. These characteristics at some point develop into skin dermatological complications such as skin cancer, keratosis, pressure ulcers, and pruritis.
Treating these problems does not only involve the physical treatment but also emotional health care of the patients. This is because skin complications do not only cause abnormality on body functions but also affect the image and subsequently the self-esteem of the patient. The health providers, that is, the physicians and nurses therefore need to develop a plan that accommodates both physical and emotional treatment of these patients so that they can have feel to have a normal life. Some of the treatment strategies applied includes cosmetic surgery, derma-therapy, wrinkles prevention techniques, psychological support and reassurance in regard to patient normalcy.
A combination of physical and emotional health care techniques calls for research to ascertain the best practices that would reduce both physical pain and emotional stress on the patient. As such, evidence based practices are a common tool that can be used to ascertain the best techniques that have effectively worked in the past. In this perspective, health care providers have a responsibility to remain updated on new developments in research and incorporate them in treatment as long as they have been proved to work.
The article “Discussion Board: Chapter 28: Integumentary Function” is a simple, brief and effective analysis of the issues relating to the skin. It analysis the effects of old age on the skin and subsequently provides an analysis of the most effective techniques of handling skin patients both physically and emotionally. The article is relevant to both health care providers and patients since it has been flamed in simple and articulate language that is comprehensible across all groups, both professionals and nonprofessionals.
