Published in:
01-12-2018 | Dermatology and Wound Care (C Sayed and D Culton, Section Editors)
Skin Disease and Neurological Conditions of the Elderly
Published in: Current Geriatrics Reports | Issue 4/2018
Login to get accessAbstract
Purpose of Review
Summarize and review the body of literature associating neurological diseases of the elderly with cutaneous disease.
Recent Findings
A growing body of evidence supports a close association between Parkinson’s disease and seborrheic dermatitis or rosacea, as well as a higher risk of melanoma. Development of bullous pemphigoid has also been found to be at higher incidence in those with multiple sclerosis. In some cases, skin disease may suggest early diagnosis of a developing neurologic condition, while in others, presence of a neurologic condition should prompt careful evaluation for cutaneous disease.
Summary
Elderly patients with neurodegenerative conditions should prompt evaluation for both benign facial dermatologic disease and bullous disease. Further research might elicit antigenic cross-reactivity between CNS epitopes and those in the skin.