hi Kg once you fall in love with a shar pei its for life, my late hubby and me were totally besotted, we had Taz from an adorable puppy till he died at 14 years a bit grumpy by then, hubby died 3 weeks later he was very ill but he could not live without Taz he just gave up. We also had a rescue shar pei/staffie cross Minnie which we adopted to keep Taz company she lived for a year after we lost Taz and recently died from cancer. Minnie was always so "grateful" she had a good home after a very bad start.
Yes peis are prone to mites etc and ear problems [ clean the ears once a week] they also hate water so baths can be fun.
Think about adopting a pei there are lots looking for a new mum &dad to love, the sad thing is people want them when they are small & wrinkly but once the grow into the wrinkles as an adult they are discarded and the poor dog doesn't know what it has done wrong so sad. One year some sick person tied a blind shar pei to the gate of a rescue centre on xmas day in the snow, how could you do that ? try the web site of Roma Brooks founder of Shar pei rescue and welfare for some friendly advice, I am 75 now and too old to rescue or foster, but if I could have another dog it would definitely be a shar pei. Good luck, but remember a dog is for life.