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Senile pruritus is one of the most common conditions in the elderly or people over 65 years of age with an emerging itch that may be accompanied with changes in temperature and textural characteristics. [1] [2] [3] In the elderly, xerosis, is the most common cause for an itch due to the degradation of the skin barrier over time. [4]
Patients are usually older persons. [4] The correlation of notalgia paresthetica localization with corresponding degenerative changes in the spine suggests that spinal nerve impingement may be a contributing cause. According to Plete and Massey, "The posterior rami of spinal nerves arising in T2 through T6 are unique in that they pursue a right ...
The exact mechanism of the condition is unknown. Some studies have suggested the itching occurs in response to increased fibrinolytic activity in the skin, [5] [6] inappropriate activation of the sympathetic nervous system, [7] increased activity of acetylcholinesterase, [8] [9] or an increase in mast cell degranulation that releases histamine and other chemicals into the body.
A variety of itching, often encountered in the eczema of elderly people, is formication; this is described as exactly like the crawling of myriads of animals over the skin. It is probably due to the successive irritation of nerve fibrils in the skin. At times patients who suffer from it will scarcely be persuaded that it is not due to insects.
Venous eczema (gravitational eczema, stasis dermatitis, varicose eczema) occurs in people with impaired circulation, varicose veins, and edema, and is particularly common in the ankle area of people over 50. There is redness, scaling, darkening of the skin, and itching. The disorder predisposes to leg ulcers. (ICD-10 I83.1)
[8] [12] In addition to flaky skin, seborrhoeic dermatitis can have areas of red, inflamed, and itchy skin that coincide with the area of skin flaking, but not all individuals have this symptom. [8] Seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp can appear similarly to dandruff. [11] When the scalp is affected, there can be associated temporary hair loss ...