“Itch”, everyone has experienced, sometimes it makes people laugh, sometimes it makes people want to cry without tears. More than 100 years ago, American psychologists Stanley hall and Arthur arlin first defined “itch”. Itch can be divided into two types: one is “happy itch”, which is caused by stimulation of sensitive parts such as the soles of the feet and armpits, accompanied by uncontrollable laughter. It is through this itch that parents and babies establish intimate relations for the first time; The other is “annoying itching”, which means that people can’t help scratching to stop itching when something crawls on their skin. Mosquito bites, dry skin, fungal infections, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and so on can all bring about this itch.
Some studies have pointed out that itching is a more unbearable feeling than pain. Sometimes the itch can last for several hours, making people uncomfortable all over and even tossing and turning. When “annoying itches” visit frequently, it is a warning to health.
“pruritus” bothers many people
More than 70% of adults have experienced skin itching for unknown reasons in their lives, and 90% of the elderly have skin itching; Six adults said that “if the itch is not severe, I will not take care of it”, three adults will “find a way to stop the itch” (such as using drugs), and only one adult will “go to the hospital to find out the cause after the skin itches”; The appearance of skin problems of young white-collar workers is obviously on the rise due to their living habits and work pressure; Because most children can’t express correctly, it’s difficult to find the cause of itchy skin.
Molly, 28, has been feeling inexplicably itchy recently. Her skin is dry, and her thighs, calves and other parts even have dry cracks and pain. She often gets scratched. Molly said that this kind of unexplained “pruritus” sometimes attacks and sometimes disappears, which makes her very distressed. Aunt Liu is even more deeply touched. “Many old people have itchy problems. It’s like they haven’t cleaned their baths. It’s especially painful in winter.” Aunt Liu said that most people would bear it and exchange antipruritic remedies together.
An endless stream of patients came to the hospital for treatment because of itchy skin. Some patients can’t help scratching and scratching, and secondary damages such as scratch marks, blood scabs and pigmentation have appeared on their skin. There are also some patients who use hormone drugs in places with very thin skin such as face, armpit and thigh root, resulting in skin atrophy, telangiectasia and secondary infection.
A survey by the World Health Organization shows that less than 10% of the yellow people have healthy skin, more than 20% have sick skin, and up to 70% have sub-health skin. Pruritus is the first feeling that 80% of dermatology patients describe when they state their self-feeling. After all, a small number of people come to the hospital to seek the help of doctors. Many people still choose to endure, or do not take itching seriously at all.
aging, allergy, diabetes all make people itch.
Glenn Gisler, a professor of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota in the United States, said: “after studying the topic of ‘itching’ for decades, we have found that there are at least 50 reasons for people to feel itchy, and the main ones can be summarized as follows.”.
It’s just a skin problem. There are two cases of itching due to skin problems. Glenn giesler said. One is that there is no primary skin damage, which is mostly caused by the lack of moisture in the skin. Just like now in dry winter, many people will feel dry, itchy and peeling. The other is that the skin itself is “sick”. Dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and other skin diseases are mostly accompanied by pruritus.
Skin degeneration in middle-aged and old people. The middle-aged and old people lose their lubricating and protective effects and appear dry because of skin atrophy and thinning, reduced water content, and reduced secretion of sebaceous and sweat glands. In the cold season, the dry climate makes the skin rough and even the epidermis falls off, making the nerve endings in the skin more vulnerable to stimulation and itching. This is the reason why the body of the elderly is itchy.
Allergic. Clinically, 1 / 3 of the patients in the allergy department have itchy skin. Allergies to diet, pollen, dust mites, etc. and contact with certain chemical agents may cause allergies, which will make the skin feel itchy. This kind of itch will generally improve after stopping contact with allergens.
gynecological inflammation. If women find pruritus in the vulva, they should especially check whether there is Trichomonas, Candida albicans infection and other gynecological inflammation. The survey shows that 73% of women feel local skin itching during menstruation, which may be related to poor quality of sanitary napkins or too tight clothing.
I’m nervous. Depression, tension, irritability and other bad emotions may cause local or systemic skin itching. B vitamin deficiency can also easily cause skin itching.
Hepatobiliary diseases. Many systemic diseases can also cause skin itching. Some studies have shown that about 40% – 60% of patients with hepatobiliary diseases will have skin itching when they suffer from liver discomfort, abnormal liver function and jaundice.
Diabetes. The incidence of skin pruritus in diabetic patients is as high as 15% – 35%. About 10% of early patients will have systemic or local skin pruritus, which is stubborn and most serious in vulva or anus.
Thyroid function is abnormal. Whether it is hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, skin itching may occur, but the itching caused by hyperthyroidism usually develops slowly and the skin is dry, which will worsen in winter.
Malignant tumor. Some tumors are accompanied by skin itching, such as lymphatic system, stomach, intestine, liver, ovary and prostate cancer. This kind of itch caused by tumors is mostly stubborn. If your body has itching for a long time without cause, it needs to be paid attention to.
six moves to drive away autumn and winter itching
What should I do if I find an unexplained itch on my body? Professor Liu Guanghui said that first of all, it is necessary to identify whether the allergic phenomenon is caused by exposure to certain allergens. Secondly, we should go to the dermatology department to rule out the problems of the skin itself and see whether the skin itself is “sick”. Finally, if skin itching occurs due to other diseases, treatment should be carried out in time for the root of the disease.
Before finding out the reason, you must not use alkaline soap with strong cleanness too frequently and use hormone drugs under the guidance of your doctor.. In autumn and winter, people’s itching is more caused by the lack of moisture in their skin, especially in the middle-aged and elderly. If it’s a slight itch, try these tips:
I don’t have to take a bath every day. In autumn and winter, it is not necessary to take a bath every day, especially for the middle-aged and elderly. The bath water temperature should be about 40 degrees Celsius, not too high. Wash for 5-10 minutes each time. It is best to choose neutral and weak acidic bath liquid, or even not to use bath liquid.
Wipe the lotion first and then dry the body. Rubbing lotion on the skin without drying out after bathing can make moisture and nutrition more fully absorbed.
Raise a tank of goldfish to replenish the water in the room. If the body allows, turn down the heating for a few degrees, use a humidifier or raise a tank of goldfish to replenish water for the room, which can reduce skin itching caused by excessive temperature and dry air.
Choose pure cotton close fitting clothes. Soft and less irritating clothes can avoid the further spread of itch, increase air permeability, and will not cause allergy after contact with the skin.
Overnight tea can effectively relieve itching. If you wash your hair or wipe your body with warm overnight tea, the fluorine contained in the tea can quickly stop itching and also prevent and treat eczema.
Eat more food that moistens the lungs and produces saliva. Drinking more water and eating more vegetables, fruits and bean products in winter can reduce the loss of water in the body. You can also eat foods that moisten the lungs and promote fluid production, such as pears, lilies, jujubes, lotus seeds, tremella, etc. don’t eat or eat less spicy food. Eat more foods rich in vitamins A and B.
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