Why do elderly people have wandering needle-like itching all over their body?

The physical constitution of the elderly is relatively poor, and they are prone to symptoms of wandering needle-like itching all over the body. There are many reasons for this symptom, the most important of which is the body's metabolic capacity deteriorating, or endocrine reasons. Of course, we must also be alert to some chronic diseases, the more common ones are hypertension, diabetes, nephrotic syndrome, etc., which may cause such skin symptoms.

Why do elderly people have wandering needle-like itching all over their body?

1. You like to take a bath in very hot water too frequently, and use alkaline soap or medicated soap, which makes the already dry skin lose the moisture of sebum. 2. It is also related to many systemic diseases, such as endocrine changes, indigestion and constipation, allergic factors, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, liver and gallbladder diseases, some tumors, etc. 3. Metabolic disorders and endocrine abnormalities are one of the important causes of skin itching.

symptom

The calves become itchy, gradually spreading to the thighs and even the entire body. Whenever you take off your clothes before going to bed, your warm body is stimulated by the cooler air in the room, which immediately causes itchy skin. Modern medicine believes that because the winter climate is cold and dry, human skin becomes dry and rough, and even the epidermis peels off, making the nerve endings in the skin more easily irritated and itchy. Since the secretory function of the skin glands in the elderly decreases, they are more likely to get sick in winter.

Prevention

Senile pruritus is both a symptom and a common skin disease among the elderly. According to statistics, the incidence rate is about 10%. The cause of the disease is that in old age, the skin atrophies and degenerates, the secretion of sebaceous glands and sweat glands decreases, and the skin becomes dry. In addition, this disease is related to certain internal diseases of the human body, such as neurasthenia, hyperthyroidism, leukemia, malignant tumors, diabetes, and liver and gallbladder diseases. The characteristic of this disease is that there is no skin damage at the beginning. Due to frequent scratching, scratches, blood scabs, pigmentation, lichenification or eczema-like changes may appear on the affected area, and sometimes secondary infection may occur. The patient feels itching all over the body, but it is most obvious on the trunk and lower limbs. The itching is especially severe before falling asleep at night. It is usually paroxysmal. In severe cases, it is persistent itching, which worsens in paroxysmal ways and is sometimes unbearable.

Note: (1) Avoid using scratching, rubbing, and hot water to relieve itching; avoid smoking, drinking, strong tea, and spicy food; if skin itching is a symptom of certain diseases, the primary disease should be treated first. (2) Oral antihistamines, calcium supplements, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B complex; sex hormone treatment, male patients use 25 mg of testosterone propionate, intramuscular injection, twice a week, or take 5 mg of methyltestosterone, twice a day. Female patients can take 0.5 mg of diethylstilbestrol, twice a day, or 10 mg of progesterone, intramuscularly, once a day. (3) Traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this disease is caused by blood deficiency and wind dryness, and the treatment should be to nourish the blood, moisturize the skin, dispel wind and relieve itching. Medicinal angelica, red peony root, chuanxiong, and saposhnikovia root 10 grams each, raw rehmannia, cooked rehmannia, Millettia reticulata, Polygonum multiflorum, Tribulus terrestris, and Kochia scoparia fruit 15 grams each. Decoction in water twice, 1 dose per day. Add or subtract: For patients with persistent itching and lichenification of the skin, add whole worm, black snake meat, and fried soapberry; for patients with secondary skin infection or eczema-like changes and white greasy tongue coating, add gentian, scutellaria, oriental water plantain, sophora flavescens, and white lichen peel; for patients with restlessness and insomnia and red tongue, add lotus seed core, fried gardenia, and mother of pearl. (4) Topical application of corticosteroid ointments or creams, antipruritic lotions, and moisturizers can be used.