Why do older people get itchy spots? Dry skin - causes and treatment. Local treatment of senile itching

Senile itching is the body's reaction to age-related changes in people over 65 years of age.

Aging of the body slows down metabolic processes, cell renewal, disrupts the functioning of sebaceous and sweat glands, destabilizes water and lipid metabolism. As a result, the skin does not receive enough nutrition. It becomes dehydrated, becomes drier, loses elasticity, and becomes thinner. It lacks the resources to perform its main function - to be a protective barrier to the penetration of viral and bacterial infections. She cannot regulate body temperature or participate in oxygen exchange. As a result, processes arise that become the causes of skin itching in older people.

It is not the only symptom. A person experiencing physiological changes may complain of tingling and burning. It is important to be able to distinguish between age-related itching and developmental irritation. chronic diseases internal organs, neurotic disorders, allergic reactions, fungal and bacterial infections. In many cases, the listed provoking factors overlap each other, so differential diagnosis must be carried out to identify the causes of the ailment.

Physiological features of itching

Its intensity is constantly changing; in one person it can only indicate itself, and then intensify and become painful.
With itching, there are no purulent inflammations.
In the evening, the intensity of the symptom always increases.
It can bother a person for months, then disappear without a trace and return with the same force.
Scratching areas do not leave typical marks on the skin.

The patient constantly tries to comb the affected area, causing the nails to take on a polished appearance.

What diseases cause skin itching in older people?

There is a whole group of diseases in which itching is one of the symptoms. The presence of other characteristic manifestations may indicate the development of a particular pathology.

A visual table of the causes of itching

Severe itching in the elderly is a systemic manifestation; it is difficult to diagnose and differentiate it from the symptoms of chronic pathologies, but the availability of modern laboratory techniques allows this to be done.

First of all, the doctor carefully examines the patient and collects anamnesis. He must understand when the first signs of illness appeared and whether peaks in their manifestation are observed. After the interview, a visual examination of the patient is carried out. Every area of skin from the back to the legs is examined.

In order to distinguish senile itch from contact dermatitis, psoriasis, scabies and urticaria, an analysis for hidden allergens and scraping from the affected areas are required. To assess the functioning of internal organs, it is carried out biochemical analysis blood. Skin itching in older people can be caused by helminthic infestations, therefore, a stool test for helminth eggs may be prescribed.

The obtained material allows you to confirm or exclude fungal or viral infection. Causes and treatment are closely related to each other.

Features of therapy

Identification of the provocateur factor helps to select effective therapeutic regimens. There is no single standard; all prescriptions are made by the doctor on an individual basis, taking into account existing factors, the severity of itching, the general health of the patient, and the likelihood of side effects. However, treatment covers two areas: local and systemic.

The goal of local treatment is to soften and moisturize the skin and restore its protective powers. For this purpose, non-pharmacological agents, cosmetic creams and ointments are used. Menthol preparations and local anesthetics help relieve itching.

Systemic treatment involves the prescription of first generation antihistamines (Diazolin, Tavegil), sedatives and antidepressants.

The 1st group of drugs blocks the production of histamine, the main provocateur of itching;

Group 2 helps combat the worsening of symptoms at night (valerian, motherwort);

Group 3 is used to treat patients in whom senile itching is a consequence of psychogenic disorders.

If this scheme does not help, hormonal agents are used. They quickly relieve the unpleasant symptom.

Traditional medicine recipes

Alternative treatment enhances the effect drug therapy and relieves medication burden, which is very important for older people.

To enrich the skin with vitamin E, you need to eat 100 grams of pumpkin seeds daily or drink two tablespoons a day of a decoction of nettle, licorice or burdock roots.

It is better to use apple cider vinegar as a local immunomodulator. Use it to lubricate itchy areas.

Acidified water prepared from three tablespoons of table vinegar and a glass of water relieves itching well. Effective infusion To wipe itchy areas, you can prepare it from fir oil and two percent novocaine.

Melissa tea can replace a sedative. If there are no contraindications, you should drink it twice a day.

Physiotherapy for senile itching

Physiotherapy is an important part of the treatment of itching in older people. Her arsenal includes procedures that can have an anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effect.

Most often, UFO (ultraviolet therapy) is prescribed. It restores the protective properties of the epidermis and stimulates natural metabolic processes. The course is selected individually.

Every old man should take more careful care of your skin. To prevent itching, it is important to try to avoid exposures that can cause dry skin. To do this, you do not need to take hot baths often, use soap with high content pH (it is better to avoid using it altogether while swimming). Do not wipe your skin with alcohol or cologne. After taking a shower, it is useful to lubricate the body with softening or moisturizing cosmetic creams.

You need to add foods high in vitamin E to your diet. Avoid caffeine, spicy and salty foods, heavy meat broths, and fried foods. It is advisable to completely exclude fruits and vegetables that can provoke the development of an allergic reaction. Avoid chocolate and various products that contain chemical additives and flavor enhancers.

Scientists attribute itching in the elderly to the influence of several factors, each of which can be expressed to a lesser or greater extent in different people. Highest value have age characteristics skin: it is usually dry and thin, with reduced turgor, healing and renewal processes skin proceed slowly.

It is not only the skin’s insufficient moisture retention that matters, but also the reduction in the amount of secretion from the sweat and sebaceous glands. All this is largely due to atrophic changes, both in the dermis itself and in the small areas adjacent to it. blood vessels, nerve fibers.

The main reasons for the development of senile itching are the factors presented below.

In many cases, itchy skin is just a natural reaction. human body on the aging process, which, however, can be effectively combated.

But sometimes such itching indicates the presence of certain diseases, and this means that itchy skin can be eliminated if its cause is eliminated.

Timely diagnosis certainly increases the elderly patient’s chances of fast recovery, so you shouldn’t put off visiting a dermatologist indefinitely.

As practice shows, to the most probable reasons Skin itching in older people may include:

Endocrine disorders.
Digestive system disorders.
Diseases of the joints or back.
Dehydration (when the fluid content in the body decreases significantly).
Pathologies nervous system.
Atrophy of the sweat and sebaceous glands.
Menopause (women).

Skin lesions are divided into hereditary and non-hereditary. Hereditary are associated with defects in chromosomes or genes and are transmitted from parents to their descendants along with genetic material. Hereditary dermatoses do not necessarily appear in offspring, but the damaged gene still persists from generation to generation.

Hereditary

They can be inherited autosomal dominant (a sick parent almost always has a sick child), autosomal recessive (a sick parent is likely to have healthy child is about 50%), and also distinguishes sex-linked inheritance.

Autosomal dominantly inherited diseases - partial albinism, atopic dermatitis, Rendu-Osler disease, neurofibromatosis, psoriasis, ichthyosis vulgaris, Marfan syndrome and others more rare diseases. Complete albinism, dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, xeroderma pigmentosum, congenital ichthyosis and others are transmitted autosomal recessively.

Classification of dermatitis

Dermatitis is divided into two large groups– exogenous and endogenous. Exogenous is associated with clearly defined external factors, although hereditary predisposition may also be involved in the manifestation of the disease. Endogenous is not the result external factors environment, that is, it is mediated by processes occurring in the body.

Exogenous dermatitis includes:

irritant and allergic contact;
photoallergic;
infectious;
dermatophytosis;
post-traumatic eczema;
toxicoderma.

Endogenous types of dermatitis:

atopic;
seborrheic;
lichenoid;
stagnant;
asteatous eczema;
discoid eczema;
simple chronic lichen;
dermatitis associated with systemic diseases.

The most common types are contact, atopic and seborrheic dermatitis, the frequency of some forms of the disease varies depending on the age group, for example, atopy is characteristic of young children, discoid and asteatous eczema - for the elderly.

For most dermatitis, it is true to divide their course into three stages:

Acute form. General characteristics- spongiosis with the formation of vesicles, acanthosis, activation of epidermal lymphocytes.
Subacute form. Spongiosis decreases, increasing acanthosis. The process of keratinization is disrupted, the amount of infiltrate in the epidermis is reduced.
Chronic form. Hyperkeratosis with areas of parakeratosis (impaired horn formation) is observed, the skin becomes coarser and thickens.

The general pathogenesis of dermatitis involves the interaction between three elements:

provoking factor;
epithelial cells - keratinocytes;
T-lymphocytes, which are directly involved in the inflammatory process.

For example, with contact allergies due to exposure to allergens, an inflammatory reaction mediated by T helper cells type 1 (Th1) occurs, which causes damage to the epidermis - vesicles, papules, swelling, weeping.

In atopic dermatitis, caused by a violation of the barrier function of epidermal cells, inflammatory mediators and cytokines are released, which cause morphological changes skin.

In addition, dermatitis is classified depending on other signs:

the main symptoms are itchy, dry, bullous and others;
localization of the inflammatory reaction - contact, atopic;
size of the rash - numular or miliary rash;
the nature of the skin reaction is fungal, inflammatory, infectious, allergic.

Sign of age or symptom of illness

In most cases, skin itching in older people (also called senile) is a banal sign of their age. The gradual atrophy of blood vessels and thinning of the subcutaneous tissue, which occurs over the years, leads to the fact that the skin retains moisture very poorly. And dry skin and its excessive sensitivity are precisely what cause the desire to scratch.

Senile itching manifests itself differently in each person, but it is usually characterized by:

changes in attacks: from mild to severe;
exacerbations and recessions that replace one another;
no rashes or suppurations on the skin;
the fact that even after very frequent scratching there are no marks left on the skin, and the nails, on the contrary, acquire a polishing effect;
At night, the skin itches especially strongly.

And dry skin and its excessive sensitivity are precisely what cause the desire to scratch.

If a person has already crossed the 65-year age limit, there is nothing pathological here, although the sensations, of course, are unpleasant and sometimes they do not even allow you to fall asleep.

Symptoms of senile itching

Itching can vary in severity, but more often it affects the stronger sex. Often its intensity is such that the patient cannot tolerate it.

The duration of the disease can be months. But the patient’s body is not always covered with scratches.

In some patients, from continuous scratching, the fingernails become polished, and the skin becomes dry, covered with boils, age spots, and eczematous lesions. This unpleasant phenomenon is explained by violations metabolic processes, drying of the dermis, atherosclerotic processes.

It manifests itself most strongly in the dark and can spread to any part of the body. In some patients, the disease develops during menopause.

Since senile itching in the elderly has a number of causes, this disorder may be accompanied by other manifestations. The nature and severity of symptoms is influenced by individual characteristics the patient, the general condition of the body and skin, previous diseases.

However, there are also general symptoms inherent in this pathology. One of them is a wave-like current.

The intensity of itching varies widely, but almost always it appears with a certain frequency, intensifying and subsiding throughout the day.

Exacerbations occur in the evening and at night. In this case, the itching becomes unbearable and painful.

It may also disappear for extended periods of time. In general, an episode of the disease lasts up to several months, after which a period of remission begins.

An equally common symptom is the absence of scratches, abrasions, scratches and irritated areas on the body. In older people, such symptoms are less pronounced, since the elasticity and turgor of the epidermis are significantly reduced due to age.

In addition to itching, older people also experience other skin problems, in particular increased dryness and flaking. As a result, eczematous and pigment spots, redness, and swelling appear on its surface.

Without proper treatment and care, the situation worsens rapidly. Purulent complications practically never occur in the form of folliculitis.

Itching is the most common skin complaint in patients over 65 years of age. It is often neglected by many people, although itchy skin can have a serious impact on quality of life in old age, especially through sleep deprivation.

Given the many changes that accompany advancing age, the management of pruritus in old age poses a particular clinical challenge.

Principles of diagnosis and therapy

In order to distinguish senile itching from contact dermatitis, psoriasis, scabies and urticaria, an analysis for hidden allergens and scraping from the affected areas is required. To assess the functioning of internal organs, a biochemical blood test is performed.

Itchy skin in older people can be caused by helminthic infestations, so a stool test for helminth eggs may be prescribed.

The resulting material allows you to confirm or exclude a fungal or viral infection. Causes and treatment are closely related to each other.

Diagnosis of skin diseases is based primarily on examination and questioning of the patient. Externally, they are manifested by redness, swelling of the skin, scratching with itching, the formation of spots, rashes, blisters, pustules and other morphological elements.

The doctor evaluates the nature of the rash, its polymorphism, prevalence, limitedness, localization and other characteristics. For additional diagnostics, dermoscopy is used, in difficult cases– biopsy of the affected area, consultation with other specialists (rheumatologist, allergist, mycologist).

Treatment

Treatment of dermatosis includes non-drug and medicinal methods impact. The patient should eat well, get plenty of rest, and not expose himself to any extreme environmental factors. Mental peace, auto-training, the use of relaxation techniques and other psychosomatic treatment of dermatoses are very important.

In some cases, systemic treatment cannot be avoided. Thus, any chronic dermatosis requires a thorough examination to identify the cause of the disease. Depending on it, antibiotics, immunostimulants, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and other oral medications may be prescribed.

Decoctions and infusions are used to treat skin lesions at home. medicinal plants with a drying, disinfecting, anti-inflammatory effect. Oak bark is very popular for treating skin diseases, birch leaf, aloe juice.

Complex therapy for chronic skin diseases includes treatment in sanatoriums, physiotherapeutic and balneological procedures, and nutritional therapy.

How many days does it take for dermatosis to go away? This depends on the cause and form of the disease, as well as on the timeliness of the treatment started. Under favorable conditions, resolution of the disease and healing of the elements occurs within 7-10 days.

However, the disease often lasts for months and years, causing significant inconvenience to the patient and reducing the quality of life. Therefore, it is important to prevent skin diseases, aimed at eliminating the causes of dermatoses discussed at the beginning of our article.

Treatment

A diagnosis such as senile itching, which is a fairly common problem, must be established by a specialist. Moreover, the doctor must first exclude other possible prerequisites for the development of this pathological condition of the skin.

Often, to identify the internal cause of itching, dynamic monitoring of patients aged quite long time.

Treatment of senile itching is prescribed for each specific patient individually, which is due to the presence of certain social and physical limitations in older people. When choosing a therapeutic course, the specialist must take into account the severity of symptoms and the general health of the elderly person.

In addition, the doctor also considers such an alarming factor as the aggressiveness of the course of the disease, since it can signal the presence of liver pathology, diabetes mellitus or oncology in the patient’s body.

A unified therapeutic method for treating senile itching has not been developed. All therapeutic measures are associated with a large number of factors and the choice is primarily influenced by the etiological mechanism of the disease.

But still, by and large, doctors do not strive to eliminate the disease, which has become the root cause of the disease and is often irreversible, but to relieve negative symptoms. For this purpose it is used local therapy:

An emollient cream individually selected by the doctor reduces the effect of skin dryness.
Drugs that have a calming effect on affected skin areas include: active component which is menthol.
Gives antipruritic effect salicylic acid, which acts as a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.
Topical corticosteroids are used to provide an anti-inflammatory effect, but they should be used with great caution and only as prescribed by a doctor.
Specialists also recommend systemic therapy drugs that are taken orally by patients and absorbed into the blood. To treat itching in the elderly, antidepressants are prescribed to reduce the neurogenic influence factor, as well as antihistamines.

After the diagnosis of senile itching is established, treatment is selected individually, taking into account all the characteristics of the individual patient’s body. Use for senile itching medications limited for a number of reasons:

With age, the functional activity of the liver and kidneys decreases. Therefore, the half-life of drugs increases, and their use in therapeutic doses may lead to significant side effects.
Local treatment is safer, but in some patients it is difficult due to physical and cognitive impairment.
The multiplicity of causes leading to the development of senile itching makes it difficult to choose a drug that will be effective in each specific case.

Only an integrated approach will help get rid of senile itching. The goal of pharmacological correction is to eliminate the main cause of the disease.

It is based on the following principles: restoration of the structure and functioning of liver cells (hepatocytes), increasing the protective properties of epithelial cells, reducing the destructive autoimmune process in the skin.

Depending on the nature of the pathology, drugs with local or systemic effects are prescribed. Local treatment is based on external use.

Creams and hypoallergenic cosmetic products (for example, La-Cri) cleanse and soothe the skin, enrich it with nutrients, restore and strengthen damaged areas, restore protective properties and natural water balance.
External corticosteroids (Advantin, Celestoderm) provide an anti-inflammatory effect. Such drugs are used with great caution and only as prescribed by a doctor.
Anesthetics (Pramoxine) are used as a local anesthetic. Most effective in combination with Polidocanol and urea.
Salicylic acid is used as a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (analgesic), which significantly reduces itching.
Capsaicin quickly treats localized lesions.

Identifying and eliminating exacerbating factors are often the first steps towards successful treatment. Patients should be informed of the increased possibility skin inflammation after scratching, and simple measures such as cutting nails can break the vicious circle of itching - scratching - itching.

Local treatment of senile itching

A constantly itchy patch of skin can drive anyone crazy. Is it possible to combat this phenomenon at home? This is quite possible, but in order to significantly enhance the effect, it is better to combine folk remedies with traditional therapy prescribed by the attending physician.

A good antipruritic result is provided by decoctions of burdock, nettle, and licorice. These herbs can be used individually or as a mixture.

The affected areas can also be carefully lubricated with a soft sponge, after moistening it in a solution of water and apple cider vinegar. This product will significantly reduce skin itching and help quickly restore damaged areas of the epidermis.

To ensure that the skin always remains elastic and firm, it is recommended to regularly eat pumpkin seeds– preferably at least 100 grams daily.

Itchy skin in older people is an extremely unpleasant and even painful condition that you want to get rid of as soon as possible. Since age-related changes in the body cannot be slowed down or stopped, it is not easy to combat this phenomenon.

The doctor examining the patient must take into account the nature of the symptom itself, which can be either pathological or physiological in nature. Based on the diagnosis, therapy is prescribed, the effectiveness of which will depend on the timeliness of contacting a specialist.

Any self-medication, without prior consultation with a doctor and examination, can only harm a person without relieving him of the hated itch. The patient can help himself with a positive attitude, which, in combination with therapy, will lead to speedy deliverance from skin itching.

Those who have at least once experienced discomfort tightening of the skin when dry, he knows how unpleasant this discomfort is.

In order to cope with the disease, you need to consult a doctor who will diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment.

When prescribing treatment for dry body skin, the doctor first of all strives to restore the protective functions of the skin. In this case it is necessary Special attention pay attention to the impact of external factors on the skin.

One of the most effective ways Doctors call treatment etiotropic treatment, since it directly affects the cause of the disease.

If there is any concomitant disease, the best way out in this case, the first step is to remove the cause of the underlying disease, and only after that the unpleasant itching itself will go away.

Typically, based on the nature of the disease, it is treated by a specialized doctor: leukemia is treated by a hematologist, obstructive jaundice by a surgeon, and kidney disease by a urologist.

It should be noted that for senile itching, medications that conceal the signs of the disease are prescribed in strictly limited quantities. The main reason This kind of limitation is the presence of several types of pathologies of various organs in the patient.

In principle, there is no single method for treating senile itching. Treatment this phenomenon depends on many factors, and above all, on the etiological mechanism.

The doctor develops a treatment regimen based on the characteristics and condition of the elderly person’s body, taking into account the presence of chronic and systemic pathologies.

For senile itching, therapy is not aimed at eliminating diseases that are irreversible, but at eliminating the symptom itself, which should improve the quality of life. Depending on the nature of the phenomenon, local or systemic effects are prescribed.

Local therapy is based on external agents. The following areas of treatment are used:

1. Creams with protective, softening and moisturizing effects. Such products help reduce the effects of dry skin.
2. External corticosteroids provide an anti-inflammatory effect (Celestoderm, Advantin). Such drugs are used strictly as prescribed by a doctor and with great caution.
3. Immunomodulators. As local funds calcineuritis inhibitors, Tacrolimus and Pimecrolimus, are used.
4. Menthol-based products have a calming and refreshing effect.
5. The drug Capsaicin copes well with localized lesions.
6. Anesthetics. Pramoxine is the most effective. A combination of Polidocanol and urea is used.
7. Salicylic acid acts as a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, which reduces itching.

Systemic therapy drugs are taken orally and absorbed into the blood. To treat senile itching, antihistamines are prescribed to reduce sensitization of the body; antidepressants (Mirtazapine, Paroxetine, Fluvoxamine) to reduce the influence of the neurogenic factor; neuroleptics (Gabapentin, Pregablin).

Folk remedies are also popular in the fight against itching. Particularly noted positive result when taking nettle decoctions; licorice root; burdock roots. Daily consumption of pumpkin seeds also helps reduce unpleasant symptoms.

Senile itch affects many older people, but this phenomenon should not be perceived as a necessary evil. This annoying and unpleasant pathology can be successfully dealt with using different methods.

Managing pruritus in older age poses a particular challenge. Physical and cognitive impairment may make the use of topical treatment impossible, and accompanying illnesses, especially those relating to the liver and kidneys in this age group carries a greater risk of adverse reactions.

Currently, there is no generally accepted treatment for itching of senile skin. Instead, the management of pruritus, especially in older adults, requires a highly individualized approach, taking into account the patient's overall health, severity of symptoms, and adverse consequences health procedures.

There are a number of general measures that can be helpful in managing itching in older adults, regardless of the underlying cause. Patient education is central to pruritus management.

Identifying and addressing exacerbating factors are often the first steps toward successful treatment. Patients should be informed of the increased potential for skin inflammation following scratching, and simple measures such as trimming nails can interrupt the vicious cycle of itching-scratching-itching.

The itching sensation is often aggravated by heat, so if necessary, measures such as taking cool showers, wearing light clothing, and using air conditioning to keep the skin cool can be taken.

Wherever possible, simple home regimens are preferable to limit skin itching as much as possible and avoid possible adverse reactions to treatment for itchy skin.

Moisturizing, softening and protective creams

Lotions, ointments and decoctions for dermatitis

The appearance in pharmacies of all kinds of herbal and plant leaves eliminates the need to independently procure the components necessary for high-quality treatment. However, dermatitis and its symptoms often help eliminate plants that actually grow everywhere, as soon as you go out into the park or forest.

A prerequisite for self-preparing lotions, ointments and decoctions is that the raw materials should be collected only in places where cars do not travel. That is, in a relatively ecologically clean zone.

Tinctures from cornflower leaves help against all known types of dermatitis, relieve severe itching. Taken orally in the form of regular green tea at least 3 times every 24 hours. Use for a glass of boiling water about a spoonful of flowers.

A decoction of birch buds is also prepared, but it is filtered and used externally, rubbing the bright red areas daily. Similarly, the preparation of grape leaves for daily drinking and lotions, oak bark for washing.

Use of traditional medicine

Dermatitis - what it is - our ancestors knew. They treated dermatitis of various types and forms with lotions, decoctions, and compresses prepared independently. The recipes were passed down from great-grandmothers and are very popular today. It should be remembered that dermatitis is treated by folk technique should be under the strict supervision of a specialist.

Dermatitis in a child during therapy folk remedies goes away after 5-7 days. The main task is to eliminate itching so that the baby does not scratch the wounds, which then heal poorly, causing infectious infection, which should not be allowed.

Before using lotions, ointments, creams, you need to check the products for an allergic reaction. The appearance of redness indicates allergic reactions for a remedy that will complicate treatment.

When dermatitis occurs in adults, comprehensive treatment is recommended. A decoction of chamomile, strings can be added when taking a bath. Decoctions relieve itching and burning of the skin. They are prepared using the classic method. Two spoons of raw material are poured with boiling water (250 ml), left for five or six hours and added to the water when bathing.

The disease dermatitis can be treated effectively with propolis oil, especially if the disease manifests itself along with an infectious disease. Seborrhea is best treated with a herbal decoction of St. John's wort, wood and burdock. The prepared decoction is rubbed into the scalp using the classical method after washing, without rinsing off with running water. The result makes itself felt after three or four sessions.

Recipes for garlic gruel with nettles or onion gruel have several options. It doesn’t matter which one the patient uses, the main thing is that the itching will become bearable and the wounds will heal after several sessions.

In fact, skin changes and wrinkles can begin long before you become an elderly person. In this article we will talk about what types of skin diseases in the elderly and whether they can be prevented.

What happens to the skin in old age, and what diseases is it susceptible to?

Of course, every person gets older every year. And naturally, our age has a direct impact on the condition of our skin. What skin looks like in old age depends on factors such as:

Healthy lifestyle
Heredity
Nutrition
Bad habits (for example, smoking or drinking alcohol)

Separately, it is worth saying that the skin is damaged under the influence of ultraviolet rays. The sun contributes to the destruction of tissue elasticity and, as a result, stretch marks, wrinkles, and pigmentation appear on the skin. Besides, Negative influence Our skin is affected by daily facial expressions, as well as all kinds of stress and anxiety. Due to these factors, adipose tissue is lost between the skin and muscles.

What changes occur to the skin due to aging?

The skin becomes rough and dry to the touch
Pigment spots and birthmarks may appear
The skin on the face sags. This is especially true for the area around the eyes, cheeks and jaw.
The skin may become too thin and transparent
When hit, bruises appear very quickly. This is due to the fact that the skin has become inelastic

Common skin diseases in old people:

Wrinkles. In fact, this disease most often indicates that the skin has begun to age. Wrinkles appear as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle, as well as prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Lines of movement on the face. As soon as the skin begins to lose its elasticity, these lines become very noticeable. This happens most often at the age of 40-50 years.
Dryness and itching of the skin. Dry skin occurs because it loses its sebaceous glands, which help keep the skin soft. It also happens, of course, that dryness and itching indicate the presence of diseases such as diabetes, kidney stones, as well as liver disease.
And perhaps most terrible disease- This is skin cancer. It has been scientifically proven that skin cancer develops due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. Most cancers develop before age 65.
Age spots. Just like cancer appears due to excess sun. This disease appears in adulthood.
Bedsores. This disease occurs when a person is in a sitting or lying position for a long time. It is worth saying that this disease is common among older people who are unable to move independently. People suffering from diabetes are also prone to bedsores.

How to prevent skin diseases in old age?

Of course, it’s worth saying right away that there is no product that would completely remove the harmful effects sun rays. But the skin is prone to self-healing.

Even if you don’t sunbathe, but just went for a walk in hot sunny weather, it will be just fine if you treat your skin with sunscreen. Give preference to products with the highest degree of UV protection.
From time to time, visit a dermatologist who will monitor all age-related skin changes.
If you are outdoors, it is best to wear a long sleeve sweater, hat and sunglasses. Thus, you will prevent ultraviolet radiation from penetrating the skin.
Do not visit the solarium.

Senile itching – this diagnosis is often given to people over 65 years of age. A number of researchers claim that every second person who has reached a certain age encounters this phenomenon. It has been noticed that men are more likely to encounter this problem. It is difficult to accurately assess the prevalence of the problem due to the fact that people who encounter it do not always seek help. medical care. In addition, itching in many cases is a symptom of other diseases or side effect from taking medications, and not an independent pathology.

When skin itching occurs in older people, its causes may be related to both skin diseases or pathology of internal organs, as well as with age-related changes in the skin, blood vessels, and nervous system. Of course, with age, the number of diseases and medications taken increases. But not in all situations it is possible to determine the connection between itching and a particular factor or disease. In fact, senile itch is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is indicated if the examination does not find a specific cause of itching.

Pathophysiology and causes of senile itching

Scientists attribute itching in the elderly to the influence of several factors, each of which can be expressed to a lesser or greater extent in different people. The age-related characteristics of the skin are of greatest importance: it is usually dry and thinned, with reduced turgor, the healing and renewal processes of the skin are slow. It is not only the skin’s insufficient moisture retention that matters, but also the reduction in the amount of secretion from the sweat and sebaceous glands. All this is largely due to atrophic changes, both in the dermis itself and in the small blood vessels and nerve fibers approaching it.

Other factors, both external and internal, can also influence the occurrence of itching:

Increased production of histamine, cytokines and other substances or increased sensitivity skin to them.
Disruption of keratinization processes in the skin.
Degeneration of nerve endings.
Atherosclerosis of blood vessels supplying the skin.
Gland hypotrophy internal secretion, in particular, the thyroid and genitals.
Atrophic processes in the intestinal mucosa with impaired digestion and absorption.
Prostate hypertrophy.
Depressive state.
Insufficient intake nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Cerebral atrophy, subclinical cerebral infarctions.
Overheating due to excess clothing that does not correspond to the ambient temperature, dry room air.
Frequent bathing with soap and detergents that have an irritating or drying effect.

Symptoms of senile itching

Such itching is usually generalized, as it is felt throughout the body. Often starting from a certain area, it quickly spreads to other areas. Usually, unpleasant sensations appear in the evening and continue at night. Sometimes itching begins to bother you after washing. Often the manifestations of the disease intensify during the cold season. Upon examination, you can detect thinning and polished edges of the nail plates. At the same time, there may be few scratches and pustules at the beginning of the disease, which is explained by a decrease in skin turgor and elasticity. With long-standing itching, multiple excoriations are detected, which can ultimately result in infiltration and thickening of the skin, symptoms of neurodermatitis. Despite the presence of painful attacks, itching does not usually lead to insomnia.

Treatment

After the diagnosis of senile itching is established, treatment is selected individually, taking into account all the characteristics of the individual patient’s body. The use of medications for senile itching is limited for a number of reasons:

With age, the functional activity of the liver and kidneys decreases. Therefore, the half-life of drugs increases, and their use in therapeutic doses can lead to significant side effects.
Local treatment is safer, but in some patients it is difficult due to physical and cognitive impairment.
The multiplicity of causes leading to the development of senile itching makes it difficult to choose a drug that will be effective in each specific case.

Systemic treatment

Depending on the detected changes in the functioning of organs and systems, the following medications may be prescribed:

Sedatives (sodium bromide, valerian rhizome preparations, bromcamphor).
Tranquilizers (Elenium, Tazepam).
Novocaine blockade according to a certain scheme.
Methyluracil to improve tissue regeneration.
Biostimulants and immunomodulators – splenin, placenta extract, tactivin.
Hepatoprotectors (karsil, silibor).
Angioprotectors (Actovegin, Trental, Teonicol).
Antisclerotic agents (linetol, lovastatin, lipostabil).
Multivitamins, aevit, complexes of omega-3 and omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids.

The use of systemic corticosteroids and antihistamines for itching in older people it is not advisable.

Local treatment

For senile itching, local therapy also has its own characteristics. You should not overdry the skin, so fatty creams, pharmacy moisturizers, and, in rare cases, ointments with corticosteroids are recommended. Avoid products containing mineral oils as they can clog skin pores. Before going to bed, you can take a warm bath with bran, herbal decoctions (chamomile, sage, elecampane, mint), starch, non-acidic whey or milk. In some cases it helps reduce itching cold and hot shower, rubbing with pieces of ice from chamomile or calendula infusions, dousing with a solution of sea salt (a tablespoon per 5 liters of water). For those who experience painful itching after taking a shower, you can try a simple method - lubricate the body with olive or peach oil before bathing.

A good effect can be obtained by performing physical therapy - acupuncture, inductothermy of the adrenal gland area, electrophoresis with calcium chloride.

Mode and nutrition

To reduce the intensity of itching, compliance with recommendations regarding diet and nutrition is of particular importance.

Itching often occurs in areas of friction, so clothing should be comfortable, loose, made from natural fabrics, appropriate temperature conditions. It is recommended to get enough sleep, stay on fresh air, ventilation of the room, sufficient physical activity if possible.

The diet should limit or exclude spicy foods, marinades, pickles, smoked foods, and fried foods. You should limit your consumption of chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee and strong tea. You need to completely give up alcohol. At the same time, nutrition should be complete, varied and include all the necessary nutrients. It is recommended to monitor the reaction to certain foods and adjust your diet if the itching increases.

In old age, against the background of many health problems, daily itching can be especially painful. Therefore, the support of loved ones, the attentive attitude of doctors and the provision of adequate assistance are so important. It is necessary to reassure the person, explain to him how he can reduce the manifestations of the disease, support him - and the treatment will certainly give positive results.

Many people whose age has exceeded 60 years are interested in eliminating itchy skin. Therefore, such readers will be interested in information about this very thing, about such a phenomenon as itching of the skin of the body in the elderly, the causes and treatment of senile itching. Especially for readers of “Popular about Health” I will consider the pathogenesis of this condition.

Itching in older skin

Senile itching is pathological condition occurring after the age of 60 years. The incidence of cyanotic itching is at least 50 percent. The course of the disease can be remitting (alternating periods of exacerbation and remission), or relatively constant, when itching to one degree or another is always present.

Causes of itchy skin

There are several reasons for the appearance of senile skin itching, and they all have an age-related nature. The pathogenesis of this condition, according to most experts, is based on degenerative changes in all layers of human skin, but especially in the dermis and epidermis.

Due to the presence of gross structural changes in human skin, the epidermis practically loses its ability to retain moisture. The skin becomes dry and extremely sensitive to external irritants.

Even wearing clothes can cause quite severe irritation, which will be accompanied by the appearance of characteristic itching, focal redness, peeling, and so on.

When itching occurs, patients can cause microdamages to the skin when scratching, which are “entry gates” for bacteria, viruses and fungi. For this reason, senile itching rarely occurs without complications, which are expressed in the form of boils, felons, and so on.

In addition, experts believe that this kind of condition can be provoked by a violation of the innervation of the skin, which occurs when age-related changes V nerve endings and fibers.

Sensitivity disorders may be accompanied by characteristic symptoms, such as skin itching, redness or peeling.

Itchy skin - symptoms

There are two forms of this disease: localized and generalized. In the first case, itching occurs in limited areas of the skin. Secondly, it affects almost the entire body of the patient.

The degree of manifestation of skin itching is also quite variable: from minor discomfort to severe painful itching, depriving the patient of the ability to sleep normally at night.

As a rule, the patient's condition changes during the day. Immediately after waking up, the state of health is usually satisfactory, but during the day the intensity of itching gradually increases, reaching its maximum in the evening hours.

At external inspection a specialist can determine slight local redness, the appearance of which in most cases is associated with scratching. Otherwise, the skin will not be changed.

Predisposing factors

Since cyanide itching does not occur in every elderly person, it is quite obvious that the development of the disease requires the presence of one or more predisposing factors.

The appearance of skin itching is stimulated by hormonal pathology. A decrease in the concentration of sex hormones can provoke skin damage, which is expressed in thinning of the skin and a decrease in the ability of the epidermis to retain moisture.

Atherosclerotic changes can stimulate the appearance of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the skin, which will contribute to the development of characteristic symptoms.

Provoking factors

A decrease in the skin's ability to retain moisture can occur with frequent water hygiene procedures, during which the protective layer on the surface of the epidermis, consisting of the secretion of the sebaceous glands, is washed away, causing the skin to additionally lose moisture.

In the cold season, in the presence of central heating, the condition of patients in most cases becomes aggravated. A sharp decline general humidity has a very negative effect on the general condition of the skin.

Diagnostics

Diagnosing the disease can be fraught with difficulties. To make a diagnosis of idiopathic senile skin itching, it is necessary to exclude other diseases that may be accompanied by similar changes: allergic conditions, helminthic infestations, pathology thyroid gland and some others. For this reason, patients may be referred from one specialist to another for a long period of time.

Treatment for itchy skin

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to restore the skin’s once characteristic ability to retain moisture. Alas, time takes its toll. If the disease is secondary, the underlying pathology should be treated. In this case, the intensity of itching will be significantly reduced.

For idiopathic skin itching the use of various moisturizing creams and ointments is indicated. Products such as Losterin cream or Dardia body milk have proven themselves to be effective and should be applied several times a day.

Conventional water procedures must also undergo significant changes. It is necessary to completely exclude ordinary soap or other alkaline products: shampoos, gels, and so on.

The water should not be too hot, since in this case more of the protective secretion is washed off from the surface of the skin sebaceous glands. After water procedure It is necessary to treat the entire body with peach or olive oil.

Baths with medicinal herbs. It is recommended to take baths 1 or 2 times a week with infusions of sage, calendula, string, St. John's wort, to which you can add a small amount of peach oil.

If the itching is severe, systemic corticosteroids and antihistamines are prescribed. The use of sedative drugs is also indicated.