What to do if your face itches: possible causes and methods of treatment

When a person experiences itching or itching in any part of the body, coping with the phenomenon is quite simple. It is enough to scratch the problem area and the itching will subside. But if the skin itches in a hard-to-reach place, and even constantly, this can become a real problem. Especially when your back itches. Why itching in the back may occur and how to cope with it is the most important and useful information.

Why does my back itch?

Description of the problem

According to statistics, every fifth elderly person suffers from senile itching. The problem worsens the quality of life and causes physical and psychological discomfort. In addition, constant mechanical stress on the skin can cause skin infection. Itching is accompanied by burning, tingling and manifests itself as follows:

• localized along the spine or over the entire surface of the back;
• occurs in certain areas of the limbs, neck and face;
• appears in the intimate area in women (in men the manifestation is probable, but less common).

Discomfortable symptoms typical of age should be distinguished from symptoms of serious dermatological and systemic lesions. The main differences and features of senile itching are:

• change in intensity of itching;
• more pronounced manifestation in the evening and at night;
• change of active periods with almost complete absence of symptoms;
• the occurrence of pain as an accompanying symptom.

In women, negative manifestations may indicate a pronounced manifestation of menopause.

If discomfort occurs, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible, even if there are no visible problems.

Itching can be a manifestation of lice or scabies, as well as various diseases of internal organs and mental disorders. Another cause of itching may be an allergic reaction or chemical exposure to the skin.

Possible complications

If medical prescriptions are strictly followed, the treatment prognosis is quite favorable. Symptoms that cause severe itching are reduced and the elderly person experiences relief.

The most common complication of the pathology manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:

• Lack of appetite.
• Infection of itchy areas.
• Chronic insomnia.
• Irritability.
• Thinning of the skin in localized areas.

If complications arise, you should not self-medicate; you should immediately consult a dermatologist.

Accompanying symptoms

There are two main types of senile itching:

1. Generalized
   . Assumes the spread of symptoms to all parts of the body.
2. Localized
   . It forms only in places of constant mechanical impact on the skin (contact with underwear or skin on the folds, under the breasts).

The progression of both forms is accompanied by the manifestation of specific symptoms:

1. No scratches or traces of mechanical damage to the dermis
   . With dermatitis, scabies and other skin lesions, scratches usually remain on the body due to unbearable itching and vulnerability of the skin. In elderly people with senile problems, such phenomena are not observed.

2. Dry skin
   . The leather dries quickly and takes on a parchment-like appearance. In this case, peeling of the top layer, peeling, eczema rashes, redness, and irritation are possible. A burning sensation on the scalp, seborrhea, and dandruff may occur. Purulent inflammatory processes usually do not occur.

3. Smooth and shiny nails
   . This symptom occurs as a result of constant mechanical impact on irritated skin. The dermis polishes the surface of the nail, making it smooth.

The listed accompanying signs often help to distinguish senile itching from dermatological and systemic lesions. But doctors in most cases prescribe additional procedures and tests to identify possible hidden causes. Diagnostics also helps to determine the factors and prerequisites for the appearance of discomfort and alleviate symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.

General principles of drug therapy

If itching occurs, you should go to the hospital. A dermatologist deals with skin diseases. He will order laboratory tests and make a diagnosis that will help you choose the most appropriate treatment.

Universal anti-itch medications:

• antihistamines - Cetrin, Suprastin and Fenkarol;
• local ointments - menthol;
• boric acid, used in the form of gauze compresses.

Causes of skin itching

The main cause of senile itching is dry skin caused by age-related changes. The phenomenon is explained by the following factors:

1. Natural reduction in the activity of the sebaceous glands
   . As a result of this phenomenon, the epidermis loses its natural lubrication and begins to dry out, forming plaques and peeling. The skin strives for constant renewal, but this does not bring improvement.

2. Violation of blood supply and nervous system function
   . The vessels atrophy and decrease in number, so the skin surface lacks nutrients and oxygen. As a result, the patient rapidly loses moisture without the possibility of its restoration.

3. Frequent use of household chemicals and detergents
   . This is usually typical for people who strive for cleanliness and do housework without protective equipment (gloves). The phenomenon is also likely to occur with frequent bathing using aggressive hygiene cosmetics.

4. Climax
   . The factor is typical for women due to estrogen deficiency. The lack of female sex hormones reduces the production of collagen and elastin, causing burning and dryness in the vagina. These processes may be accompanied by severe pain and burning.

Discomfort can also be caused by more serious problems, including:

• endocrine disorders;
• cerebral infarction;
• destructive changes in nerve endings;
• psycho-emotional disorders, depression;
• parasite infection;
• impaired absorption of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract;
• kidney and liver diseases.

Treatment of classic senile itching is based on symptom relief and restoration of moisture balance in the upper and lower layers of the epidermis. It is usually not possible to completely get rid of the problem, since it is associated with irreversible age-related changes. In other situations, an integrated approach is required to eliminate or stop the underlying cause.

Traditional medicine

Folk remedies are also very effective in combating itching. The most popular of them are described in the table:

Diagnostic measures

Basic diagnostic measures include:

• clinical blood and urine tests (necessary to determine possible anemia or the presence of inflammatory processes by ESR);
• Ultrasound of the thyroid gland (determination of possible endocrine disorders);
• biochemical analysis (required to determine the current state of internal organs);
• stool analysis (for the presence/absence of parasites);

• X-ray of the lungs.

Diagnosis for women over 50 years of age includes an examination by a gynecologist with possible testing of hormone levels.

In all cases, the doctor conducts an anamnesis and external examination of the patient. Possible accompaniment of the main symptoms with nausea, vomiting, weakness and dizziness, and abdominal pain may require additional diagnostic measures and consultations with specialists. Based on the diagnostic results, a set of therapeutic measures is prescribed.

Treatment of senile itch

A set of measures to eliminate discomfort, depending on the situation, includes the use of external remedies, physiotherapy, a special diet, taking medications, and changing habits. It is possible to use both the methods separately and their combination. Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor based on the diagnostic results.

Drug effects

For therapy, in almost all cases, emollient and moisturizing external agents are used. These include:

1. Creams and ointments with menthol
   . Relieves burning sensation and pain.

2. Anesthetics
   (Pramoxine, creams based on pramocaine hydrochloride, Novocaine, Lidocaine). Eliminate pain and peeling, soften the surface of the dermis.

3. Hormonal ointments
   (Hydrocortisone, Celestoderm). They have a comprehensive effect on the skin, relieving irritation, peeling, dryness and inflammatory processes.

4. Capsaicin-based drugs
   (Capsaicin). They are used to treat post-herpetic manifestations and discomfort caused by neurological changes.

5. Salicylic ointment
   . Perfectly softens the skin and eliminates flaking, relieves inflammation, kills pathogenic bacteria and accelerates regeneration.

For internal use:

• antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Tavelig, Diazolin);
• sedatives, antidepressants (Mirtazapine, Paxil, motherwort tincture, Valerian);
• multivitamins;
• hepatoprotectors (Essentiale);
• angioprotectors (Phlebodia, Detralex).

Additionally, cosmetic creams (for example, Children's) can be used. During therapy, it is recommended to replace aggressive cosmetics with more gentle ones. Work with chemicals should be done with gloves. Drug treatment can be supplemented by physical treatment using anesthetics.

Diet and changing eating habits

Dietary food should be enriched with vitamins and mineral components. You will need to exclude from the diet:

• strong meat broths;
• caffeine;
• alcohol;
• chocolate and sweet cocoa;
• salted, smoked, spicy;

• fried and smoked.

It is recommended to enrich the menu with fruits and vegetables that do not cause allergic reactions. It is useful to eat dietary meat and cartilage, low-fat jellied meat. Additionally, it is recommended to keep a food diary indicating the reactions of the skin to the consumption of certain foods.

Let's sum it up

Peeling and itching of the skin in old age is not always a sign of a serious dermatological or systemic lesion. But if the problem becomes permanent, the patient’s quality of life deteriorates and constant physical and psychological discomfort arises, which can lead to complications.

Therefore, at the first manifestations of itching, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible to receive symptomatic treatment to alleviate the condition and well-being.

Itchy back - explanation

The feeling of itching cannot be called pleasant. This, of course, is not pain, but sometimes it is worse than aching pain. The desire to scratch the skin in a disturbing place is indomitable, it is almost impossible to cope with it. The surface layer of the dermis is irritated, there is a tingling and burning sensation. When this happens chronically, it continues constantly, the person is always in an irritated state. It turns out that itching is not as harmless as it seems at first glance. It can worsen the quality of life along with pain.

By the way. If your back itches, a person is deprived of restful sleep and active wakefulness, his performance decreases, and depression may even develop.

When looking specifically at back itch, which is recognized as a medical problem, the phenomenon is divided into several global species pairs.

1. Acute and chronic.
2. Generalized and localized.
3. Pathological and physiological.

Causes of itchy skin

Common Causes of Itchy Skin

Why does my back start to itch? This is perhaps the most important question, the answer to which determines how to get rid of the itching that torments a person.

The entire surface of the back can itch, as well as locally the area between the shoulder blades, near or under one shoulder blade, in the lower back, along the length of the spine.

There are many reasons. From wearing synthetics or wool close to the body, insect bites, to serious diseases of the excretory and all internal systems, nervous structure, oncology in early development.

Advice. With the sudden onset of itching, any person immediately strives to satisfy the understandable desire to scratch his back. But doctors recommend not to do this, but to go to the doctor for a consultation and determine the cause as soon as possible. Of course, if we are talking about a systematic phenomenon that has no visible causes (for example, such as a mosquito bite under the shoulder blade).

Wearing synthetics or wool can cause itchy skin

But even when the cause is known, you should refrain from intense scratching if possible. When scratching, it is very easy to miscalculate the force, lose control and damage the skin. This will contribute to the formation of hematomas, scars and ulcers, damage to the deep layers of the dermis and the spread of microbes over a large area, fraught with infection.

What to do if your back systematically itches? Contact your therapist or dermatologist. Often, an examination is prescribed in parallel by two doctors, or the therapist, based on the results of the diagnosis, refers the patient to a dermatologist, neurologist, allergist and other specialized specialists.

By the way! Treatment of itching in the back will be aimed not only at eliminating the causes of its occurrence, but also at relieving symptoms, therefore, with effective therapy, the sensation of scabies is relieved very quickly, and the patient feels much better.

Only a doctor can determine the exact cause of itching