Itching all over the body of the elderly is not necessarily a precursor to a major disease, the causes of which are geriatric pruritus, neuropsychiatric factors, systemic diseases, lifestyle habits, other factors and so on.
1. Geriatric pruritus: the elderly sebaceous glands function decline, resulting in decreased secretion of sebum, causing skin dryness, in addition to degenerative atrophy of the skin or excessive washing can be induced geriatric pruritus.
2. Neuropsychiatric factors: emotional tension, anxiety, depression, fear and various neurological dysfunctions.
3. Systemic diseases: such as leukemia or other malignant tumors, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, dermatomyositis, diabetes mellitus, uremia, and dry syndrome.
4. Lifestyle habits: such as the use of excessively alkaline soap, cleaning and skin care cosmetics.
5. Other factors: allergy to certain drugs, climate change and so on.
Elderly people should go to the hospital when the generalized itching, identify the causes, standardized treatment.