The pruritus of the elderly is a common skin disease of the elderly that is self-consciously itchy without a primary rash, and is called pruritus in Chinese medicine as wind itch. The disease does not have a primary rash, but because the patient feels itchy and scratches excessively, it can be followed by scratch marks, blood scabs, pigmentation, skin hypertrophy, mossiness, cracking and other skin damage. Pruritus occurs all over the body, mainly on the trunk and lower extremities, or limited to the anus, scrotum and female genital area, gradually expanding to the whole body. Itching is often paroxysmal, lighter during the day and heavier at night. And there is a certain seasonality, some elderly people feel itchy skin in the autumn and winter season, until the next year in April and May, until the weather turns warm, then gradually return to normal.
The causes of pruritus in the elderly are relatively complex, common causes.
(1) ageing caused by skin aging, atrophy, thinning, sebaceous glands and sweat glands secretion function decline, can moisten the skin sebum and sweat secretion subsequently reduced and occur.
(2) Low immune function, reduced water, fat and neutral lipids in the stratum corneum, increased blood viscosity, slow blood flow, impaired microcirculation, and insufficient supply of nutrients to the skin.
(3) Certain age-related diseases, such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, etc.
(4) Mood swings, such as impatience and irritability, emotional impulsiveness, can cause itching attacks or aggravation.
(5) stimulation of external factors, such as dry, cold, warm and other climatic environments, as well as chemical fiber fabric contact and other factors, can also induce pruritus in the elderly.
Treatment principles: Western medicine treatment of pruritus mainly uses sedative and tranquilizing anti-itch, antihistamine, calcium, vitamins and other drugs, symptomatic treatment, with faster results. Chinese medicine treatment of pruritus mainly adopts evidence-based treatment, adding and subtracting with the symptoms, and combining internal and external. Since the etiology of this disease is more complex, it may be systemic or exogenous, therefore, for such patients, actively search for the cause, and for different reasons, combine Chinese and Western medicine, and treat both the symptoms and the root cause, in order to receive twice the effect with half the effort.
Simple treatment.
(1) Internal medicine.
For heavy itching, take paracetamol orally, 1 tablet each time, 3 times a day; for heavy nighttime, take 2 tablets orally every night before bedtime.
(2) Topical medication.
For itchy skin around the body, apply topical oven camphor lotion; for dry and itchy skin, apply boric acid solution and urea cream topically.
(3) Medicinal bath.
Cang Er Cao, mugwort 50g each, beehive, bitter ginseng, ground bark, white fresh skin, Chuan Geun Pi 30g each, Sichuan pepper, alum 20g each. water decoction of the above drugs for external washing, 1 dose daily, 1-2 times, each time rub 15-20 minutes, 7 days for a course of treatment.
(4) Drug underwear
Bai Bian, Cang Zhu, Bai Xian Pi, Sheng Di, Dan Pi 500g each, Hossein, Kulan, Xiong Huang 100g each, ice chips, Qing Dai 50g each, and appropriate amount of fixative. Add 10L of water to the above formula and decoct for 30min, then filter, add ice chips, Qing Dai and fixative into the filtrate and shake well, then dip 4-6 pieces of cotton underwear into the liquid for 1-2 hours and take them out to dry, put them into plastic bags for storage and spare, and change them once in 10 days.
(5) Ear point method
Take the Shen Men, sympathetic, adrenal, endocrine, lung area, itchy points and other areas, use cloth tape 3 × 3mm2 sticky Wang Bu Liuxing seeds, change once a week.
Prevention and regimen.
1, life.
(1) avoid the stimulation of triggering factors, the residence should be kept ventilated, the temperature is appropriate.
(2) the affected area to avoid strong scratching friction, shower should not be too diligent, do not wash with strong alkaline soap, avoid scalding with hot water.
(3) Regular life, strengthen nutrition, ensure sufficient sleep, avoid mental tension or depression, and maintain a relaxed mood.
(4) underwear should be pure and soft, should not wear woolen or chemical fiber clothes.
2.Diet.
(1) Avoid drinking alcohol, strong tea, coffee, or eating spicy alcohol, fishy hair and other stimulating foods.
(2) Eat more alkaline fruits and vegetables such as: grapes, green tea, kelp, tomatoes, sesame, cucumbers, carrots, bananas, apples, oranges, radishes, green beans, etc.
(3) can also be adjusted through traditional Chinese medicine dietary therapy, commonly used dietary therapy drugs: astragalus, jujube, angelica, ginseng, shouwu, yam, yi ren, chicken blood vine, helianthus bark, nightshade, prince’s ginseng, American ginseng, maidenhair, wolfberry, mulberry, gum, etc..