Applying frailty syndrome to the skin: A review and guide for prevention and management

Langemo, Diane, Campbell, Karen E., Holloway, Samantha, LeBlanc, Kimberly, Tariq, Gulnaz and Beeckman, Dimitri 2021. Applying frailty syndrome to the skin: A review and guide for prevention and management. Advances in Skin and Wound Care 34 (8) , pp. 444-447. 10.1097/01.ASW.0000757392.83467.8a

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Abstract

Enhancing skin health and preventing skin barrier function damage are integral parts of nursing practice across the continuum of care,1 and skin integrity is an important quality indicator. During the life span, there are periods (such as older age) in which the skin is more vulnerable, rendering individuals more susceptible to skin injury (skin frailty).2 The International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP), in its previous decade of work, has identified key knowledge gaps in the prevention and management of skin problems and recognized a need for guidance focused on the shared risk factors and preventive strategies for common skin conditions faced by individuals with vulnerable skin: skin tears, pressure injuries/ulcers, moisture-associated skin damage (MASD), and skin changes at end of life. There is growing evidence that these distinct skin conditions are associated, eg, moisture-associated skin damage as a risk factor for pressure injuries/ulcers3 or synergistic, concomitant reductions in skin tears and pressure injuries/ulcers.4 Providers should prioritize an integrative approach to skin frailty, tackling the main risk factors for these conditions (eg, maceration, immobility, medical equipment) synergistically.5 This would represent a new approach, moving away from a siloed way of thinking, and considering all of these conditions in the broader context of skin frailty, reducing overall risk and incidence and improving patient outcomes. The aim of this column is to define the concepts related to skin frailty and vulnerability to injury and guide clinicians in their efforts to identify shared risk factors for skin conditions and ways to maintain or promote skin integrity.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
Publisher:	Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
ISSN:	1527-7941
Last Modified:	20 Feb 2026 16:26
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/185098

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