Liu Houguang, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Xiamen Third Hospital: senile pruritus is a common skin disease in the elderly. Modern medical research shows that senile pruritus is mostly due to a physiological decline in hormone levels, aging and atrophy of the skin, reduction in the secretion function of sebaceous glands and sweat glands resulting in reduced water content of the skin, lack of sebum moisturization, and susceptibility to stimulation induced by surrounding environmental factors.
1 The performance of pruritus in the elderly elderly pruritus is mostly seen in older people over 60 years old, the incidence of men is higher than that of women, and the itching is more serious in the evening than during the day. The main manifestation is dry and thin skin, the surface has chaff-like flaking, long-term scratching, the skin will appear many scratches, blood crust, pigmentation, moss-like lesions, heavy cases can occur skin infection. Liu Houguang, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Xiamen Third Hospital
2 causes of pruritus in the elderly people in old age, often due to mood swings, temperature changes and other induced pruritus, this disease is often regarded as “chicken and garlic” and ignored. However, because of the prolonged and sometimes light and heavy, over time will affect the mood of the elderly, resulting in insomnia, and even become irritable, irritable and restless, has to attract the attention of the elderly.
3 elderly pruritus pathogenesis The occurrence of pruritus in the elderly is closely related to the physiological changes in the elderly. From the skin, it is mostly due to degenerative atrophy of skin gland function, thus many wrinkles, brittle skin and reduced resistance; from the visceral system, it is mostly related to endocrine changes, allergic factors, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, anemia, habitual constipation and liver disease, etc. Sometimes it is also a signal of certain malignant diseases. In the face of the complicated manifestations of persistent itching, it is important to be vigilant and self-identify first in order to exclude itching caused by various diseases. Anyone suffering from persistent, recurrent and persistent pruritus that cannot be diagnosed quickly should consider the possibility of all the above-mentioned diseases. See a doctor if necessary to find the root cause of the itching and treat the cause.
4 How to reduce itching to a minimum
4.1 Keep a happy mood Divert attention from the “itch” and prevent mental factors from aggravating generalized itching. Try to avoid scratching to prevent co-infection.
4.2 Skin care Elderly skin because of physiological degeneration, skin performance lack of adequate sebum protection, dry skin dehydration, too diligent bathing will make the skin more and more dry, such as bath water is too hot, with alkaline soap or hard rubbing, will aggravate the dry skin itchy state. In addition, due to the lower temperature in winter, less sweating, the number of baths should be reduced, the way the bath to shower is better, the water temperature to avoid too high, do not scrubbing, the conditions of the body with a bathtub soak the best, after the bath in the whole body or often itchy parts of the body to apply a bit of emollient containing more oil to maintain the skin’s moisturizing degree.
4.3 choice of clothing wool or blended towels, socks, underwear or rough texture of underwear, skin irritation, thermal underwear has become very popular in recent years, but some thermal underwear is made of a variety of composite sandwich material, two layers of ordinary cotton fabric in the middle of a layer of fluffy chemical fibers, as a way to prevent the human skin and the outside world for gas and heat exchange, so as to achieve the purpose of warmth. But this kind of clothing containing chemical fiber components to wear on the human body is easy to generate static electricity, these static electricity around the human body can produce a large number of cations, it can make the human skin moisture reduction, increased dander. At the same time, some poor quality clothing now contains too much formaldehyde, formaldehyde can also lead to a number of skin diseases, causing itchy skin. Therefore, the elderly should try to choose pure cotton clothing, and should also wear loose.
4.4 Diet It is advisable to eat a light diet, avoid smoking, alcohol, strong tea and coffee, less spicy and stimulating food, and avoid eating food that can easily cause allergies. Research shows that too much and too diligent addiction to tobacco, alcohol, strong tea, coffee or spicy food is also a stimulus to the skin, the skin will be stimulated by the itchy feeling. Therefore, appropriate to quit bad habits for the prevention and treatment of itchy skin in the elderly is very important. At the same time, eat more milk, eggs, lean meat, soybean products and fresh vegetables and fruits, but also an appropriate amount of vitamin C, vitamin B and for vitamin E, etc., but also drink an appropriate amount of water to replenish body moisture.
4.5 Be cautious with medication Inappropriate topical medication often stimulates the skin and aggravates itching. Available stove glycolic lotion, anti-itch water and hormone ointment.
You can use Cyproheptadine 2 mg three times a day and take oral moistening and anti-itching capsules.