As people age, they encounter several health disorders, including skin itching, which sometimes occurs without a clear cause. Doctors advise the elderly to follow several steps to alleviate itching as much as possible. Daniel Polter, a researcher in dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, states that skin disorders such as itching typically begin around age fifty and may worsen thereafter.
Itching requires a doctor's consultation, as scratching the skin continuously increases inflammation, which may worsen the situation and deteriorate the health of the elderly person. Itching in older adults sometimes occurs without an external irritant, due to various factors such as a decline or disorder in the immune system. The nerves in the skin of an older person react differently and sometimes inexplicably, which may lead the brain to perceive itching even in the absence of a triggering factor.
According to "Consumer Reports," the skin becomes thinner with age, making it more sensitive to external factors. However, dermatologist Mona Gohara from Yale University recommends four important steps to reduce itching as much as possible in older adults:
1. Take care of the skin by using products free of fragrances.
2. Clean the body and bathe in warm water, avoiding hot water as much as possible.
3. Keep the skin constantly moisturized using natural creams free of fragrances, avoiding oils and liquid creams that have very short-lasting effects.
4. When bathing, experts recommend leaving the skin slightly damp to facilitate better moisturizing.
