The prevalence of skin problems beneath the breasts of in-patients.

The prevalence of sore skin beneath the breasts has not been evaluated previously. One hundred and thirty-one wards in one district were visited, and 11.2% of all adult female patients either had an active lesion or one that had healed during her current admission. The patients tended to be in wards for the elderly or mentally ill, often suffering illnesses which affected their functional ability. It is estimated that approximately 2% of all senile admissions will develop this problem in the first six days.