As we age, the human body will gradually age, and many elderly people will encounter the problem of dry itching. Dry itching is a common problem for the elderly, but the pain it brings is enormous. The itch penetrates deep into the bone marrow, is unbearable, and makes it hard not to scratch. However, the more you scratch, the more itchy, the more itchy, the more you scratch, and some elderly people even scratch the ** and become infected, which seriously affects the quality of life. So, what are the causes of senile **dry itching?What precautions can we take?
Why are older people itchy easily?
Dry itching in the elderly, most of which is caused by physiological changes. As we age, our ability to retain moisture will gradually weaken, and we will lose water and cause itchingThe elasticity of blood vessels in the elderly becomes poor, blood circulation also deteriorates, and the cells are not adequately nourished, which will also induce itching;Decreased hormone levels in older adults may also induce dry itching. In addition to these physiological factors, the nervous system of the elderly is more sensitive to external stimuli and is prone to allergies that cause itchingCertain antihypertensive medications, antidepressants, etc. may also cause itching. Then there are factors such as infections and tumors, but such cases are relatively rare.
*Unrelated).What methods can be used?
Dry itching in the elderly is generally stubborn, and it generally needs to be relieved with the help of drugs during the attack. If the dryness is severe, the important thing is to moisturize. Applying with a moisturizer containing ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, etc., can form a protective film on the surface that helps lock in moisture to relieve dry itching. If dry itching is accompanied by inflammation, it is recommended to use some anti-inflammatory creams, such as compound beclomethasone cream. If itching is severe, your doctor may also recommend topical anesthetics such as lidocaine or corticosteroids such as mometasone furoate and hydrocortisone. These medications can reduce the inflammatory response of **, thereby relieving itching.
In addition to topical medications, it can also be combined with some oral medications**. The most commonly used dry itch in the elderly is antihistamines, which are commonly used drugs for various itching and can work by blocking histamine, a substance that causes itching. Commonly used such drugs are loratadine, cetirizine, etc. It should be noted that driving, dangerous operations, delicate operations, etc. should be avoided for a short period of time after taking this type of medicine, as it has a certain drowsy effect. Certain antidepressants are also used for severe, recalcitrant itching in older adults, such as doxepin.
Here are a few things you can do to prevent it
After entering the middle-aged and elderly stage, special attention should be paid to the outermost stratum corneum and moisturizing. The stratum corneum is equivalent to a protective shell that can help lock in water. As we age, the moisturizing ability of the stratum corneum will gradually weaken, resulting in water loss, which can cause dry itching. Therefore, do not rub the bath towel vigorously when taking a bath, so as not to damage the stratum corneum;Drink plenty of water on a regular basis, and adults drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
Develop a Xi of using skincare products. You can use skincare products that contain moisturizing ingredients to help** stay moisturized. Indoor temperature and humidity should be maintained, and if the room temperature is too high and the humidity is too low, it will lead to dryness and aggravate the symptoms of dryness and itching. You can use humidifiers to increase indoor humidity, and it is recommended to keep indoor humidity at 50% to 60%.
In terms of diet, eat more foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and -3, such as fish, egg yolks, carrots, spinach, etc., and avoid eating too spicy and greasy foods to avoid irritation**.
The knowledge of this article refers to "Principles and Practice of Pathology", written by James Feenig, published by People's Medical Publishing House.
*: Henan Provincial Health Central Plains Service Guarantee Center.
Contributed by: Rong ** Department.
Editor in charge: Yang Hua.