Yes, burns in elderly patients are notably more dangerous compared to the same burn in a younger person, due to several important physiological reasons that must be understood.
Why Burns Are More Dangerous in the Elderly:
- Thinner and weaker skin: With age, skin becomes thinner and less elastic, meaning the same heat source causes a deeper burn.
- Slower healing: Cell regeneration is slower and blood supply is weaker, extending healing time and increasing infection risk.
- Accompanying chronic diseases: Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and blood-thinning medications all negatively affect healing.
- Weakened immunity: The immune system weakens with age, significantly increasing infection risk.
- Mobility limitations: Contractures and scars affect elderly patients more who already have limited mobility.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we consider patient age in every treatment decision. We collaborate with chronic disease doctors to improve control of accompanying conditions during burn treatment. Our results with elderly patients are excellent thanks to our comprehensive multidisciplinary approach.