Itching triggers and their relationship with aging

As you age, your skin will experience various changes. This condition occurs due to several factors including changes in the body, lifestyle and diet. Itching one of them. What triggers itching when you get older?

Triggers itching sensation on the skin in old age

As you age, your skin becomes drier. Usually, this condition affects the lower legs, elbows and forearms a lot. Skin that is too dry becomes scaly more easily and triggers a quite irritating itching sensation.

This condition is caused by sweat and oil glands that help keep the skin hydrated slowly disappear as you age.

Especially if you often shower with warm water and use soap with harsh ingredients, then dryness of the skin is no longer avoided.

Not only that, habits such as not drinking enough, smoking, stress, and excessive sun exposure also make the skin drier.

Dry, itchy skin usually gets irritated very easily. Although generally not dangerous, a persistent itching feeling that gets worse every day can be a sign of certain diseases. Diabetes and kidney disease, for example, can cause itching of the skin.

How to relieve the triggers for itching due to age

To relieve itching on the skin due to dryness, here are a variety of home remedies that can be done, namely:

1. Do not take warm baths too often

Warm baths are soothing, especially for people who are elderly. However, did you know that warm water can remove the body's natural oils? In fact, this natural oil is needed so that the skin remains supple and moisturized.

However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't take a warm shower at all. According to Dr. Robert N. Butler, MD., Lecturer in geriatrics at the Brookdale Department of Geriatric and Adult Development at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, you can still take a warm shower just not too often.

Although a warm shower can help relieve itching, if done too often the skin can become drier. As a result, the itching sensation on the skin gets worse.

2. Use a moisturizer

Because the body has difficulty retaining moisture, it is better for older people to use a moisturizer.

Moisturizing products are mainly used after a shower when the skin is still semi-dry to seal and provide the hydration it needs.

Try to use a quality moisturizer to keep the skin moisturized, healthy, and avoid dryness and irritating itching.

You can use a moisturizer with the active ingredient urea to help attract and retain moisture in the skin so that the skin is protected from dryness, which is the main cause of itching. Usually, urea is often reduced in dry and itchy skin conditions.

Apart from being made from urea, you can use a skin moisturizer that contains lauromacrogol on dry skin. This ingredient is a local anesthetic which can help you reduce the uncomfortable sensation caused by dry and itchy skin

3. Using the right soap

Do not carelessly choose soap. Although all soaps aim to clean the body from dirt, not all of them contain ingredients that are gentle to the skin.

For older people, for example, you need to choose a soap that is not only cleansing but also soothing and helps protect the skin from various problems, one of which is dryness.

Choose a bath soap that contains natural oils such as avocado or soybean oil, which can help moisturize your skin and reduce itching and irritation.

4. Using an itch reliever cream

Using over-the-counter or prescription anti-itch creams can help reduce the discomfort you feel.

The cream is made from a mixture of oil and water which can leave a soft and smooth sensation on the skin. Choose an itch-relieving cream that is easily absorbed by the skin so it doesn't leave a sticky impression.

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