Pruritus in the elderly: Clinical approaches to the improvement of quality of life

摘要

Pruritus is the most common skin disorder in the geriatric population. It is defined as an unpleasant cutaneous sensation that provokes the desire to scratch. Acute itch (lasting less than 6 weeks) may provide a protective function, but chronic itch (lasting more than 6 weeks) is mostly a nuisance. The prevalence of pruritus increases with age and can be partially attributed to a decline in the normal physiological status of the skin (Table I). In a French study, a survey was sent to 10,000 randomly selected households. Of 7,500 respondents, 87% reported skin problems since birth and 43% experienced these problems over the 2 years preceding the survey. In addition, 29% of the respondents described their symptoms as burdensome. Of those individuals, more than half indicated that chronic skin disorders, with pruritus as the primary symptom, impaired daily activities.