What to do about itching in dialysis patients

Itchy skin in dialysis patients can be treated with medications that lower blood phosphorus on top of limiting phosphorus-containing foods; changing regular hemodialysis to hemofiltration and hemoperfusion; and taking anti-allergy medications, such as cetirizine. Itchy skin is often seen in patients on uremic dialysis, and the cause of itchy skin is strongly related to toxin accumulation, especially hyperphosphatemia. In order to control phosphorus, you should first avoid eating too much animal offal and nuts. Secondly, it is important to take medications that lower blood phosphorus, such as lanthanum carbonate, sevelamer and magnesium aluminum carbonate. The mode of blood purification can be changed. Ordinary hemodialysis is less effective in lowering phosphorus and can be changed to hemofiltration and hemoperfusion. Anti-allergic drugs, such as cetirizine, can be taken. These drugs can inhibit the allergic reactions caused by toxins on the skin surface and thus stop the itching.