title: Pruritus in the elderly - a guide to assessment and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pruritus is the most common skin complaint in patients over the age of 65 years. These patients are in a unique population group that will require a comprehensive clinical approach. The symptoms of pruritus can be potentially debilitating and can have a significant impact on elderly patients by impairing their quality of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article discusses the assessment and management of pruritus, with a specific focus on the elderly population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pruritus in the elderly population remains both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In the first instance, it has to be established whether the pruritus is arising from a primary dermatological condition or whether it is a manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. When a rash is present it could suggest an underlying primary dermatosis. Apart from lifestyle modifications, emollients, topical antipruritics (eg menthol 1% in aqueous cream), oral antihistamines, topical corticosteroids and phototherapy may prove useful.
authors.affiliation: MBBS, Dermatology Registrar, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW.
authors.forename: Niranthari
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chinniah
authors.forename: Monisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019468:Disease Management; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000982:Antipruritics; D004643:Emollients; D005938:Glucocorticoids