Overview
Introduction
An older adult can sustain a skin tear during an ordinary transfer, a bump against furniture, or removal of a dressing.
An older adult can sustain a skin tear during an ordinary transfer, a bump against furniture, or removal of a dressing. The force may be minor, but aging skin has less structural reserve: the epidermis is thinner, the dermal-epidermal junction is flatter, and subcutaneous cushioning is reduced. The immediate priorities are to control bleeding, preserve any viable skin flap, cover the wound without further trauma, and determine whether infection, tetanus risk, or deeper injury requires escalation. Prevention matters because a previous skin tear, xerosis, impaired mobility, cognitive impairment, corticosteroid exposure, and falls all increase the likelihood of another injury.