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Pruritus in the elderly

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Many elderly patients who complain of itch may not have any primary skin condition.

  • due to the increase in permeability of skin, elderly people are more likely to have dry skin leading to itching (1)
  • between 10 and 50% of pruritic patients have systemic disease (see investigations)
  • prurigo is a relatively common cause
  • differential diagnosis includes scabies, lice, mites, fibreglass, eczema, winter itch, aquagenic pruritus

If the above have been considered, think of asteototic eczema.

Routine application of emollients together with other preventive measures such as maintaining good nutrition and keeping the ambient environment cool will prevent poor skin health (1).

Reference:

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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