An older patient complains about increasing dry skin. What should ...

[berenicecastro]

An older patient complains about increasing dry skin. What should the nurse explain to the patient about this skin problem? Standard Text: Select all that apply.
 
  1. There is a reduction in sebum production as the body ages.
  2. There is a decrease in the number of sweat glands in the body with aging.
  3. There is a change in the keratinization and lipid content in the stratum corneum.
  4. There is an increase in body core temperature with aging, resulting in skin drying.
  5. There is a change in the structure of the skin cell because of years of using alcohol-based soaps.

Question 2

While performing a physical assessment, the nurse notes that an older patient has multiple brown and black bands on the finger nails of the thumbs and index fingers.
 
  What does this assessment finding indicate to the nurse? Standard Text: Select all that apply. 1. A fungal infection
  2. Damage to the nail matrix
  3. Possible melanoma of the nail
  4. Benign finding often seen in African Americans
  5. Finger nails split in response to recent trauma

[bblaney]

Answer to Question 1

1,3
Rationale: Sebum is an oily substance that keeps hair supple and lubricates the skin. Sebum protects the skin from water loss and provides protection against infection. Sebaceous glands increase in size with age, but the amount of sebum produced is decreased. This would explain why the older patient is experiencing increasingly dry skin.

Answer to Question 2

3,4
Rationale: This finding is a longitudinal pigmented band and is not associated with a fungal infection.