Aging-related skin changes: development and clinical meaning.

The medical literature is replete with articles that discuss the spectrum of sun-induced changes in human skin. These extrinsic, actinically induced changes, more prevalent in the elderly, include wrinkling and loss of elasticity; dyspigmentation; vascular ectasias and hemorrhage; atrophy; and benign and malignant neoplasms. This article, however, focuses on the intrinsic changes behind geriatric skin problems, providing a non-specialist's illustrated guide to recognizing structural and functional changes due to normal, chronological aging and how they manifest clinically in elderly patients.