Problems of aging: relieving itching in the geriatric patient.

Itching is a common condition in elderly patients and probablpy is caused by a combination of factors, low humidity being one of the most important. After determining that the patient does not have systemic pruritus, the physician should give advice about trying to increase the ambient humidity and about bathing, eg, to decrease the number of baths or showers, use warm water rather than very hot water, and soap only the axillary, anal, and pubic areas. In some instances the use of steroid creams or lotions may be helpful.