“There, no, down there”... Why does your back get itchy as you get older?

 

As we age, many people complain of itchy backs. Because the back is a hard-to-reach area, it's difficult to scratch on your own. It's common to ask family members to scratch your back, or even have a filial grandson in bed. Why does my back itch so much more than it did when I was younger?

As we age, our skin ages too. As skin ages, it becomes more prone to dryness and the exocrine glands that secrete sweat and other substances decline. The back has fewer sebaceous glands than other areas, making it more prone to dryness and itchiness. This is because sebum production is limited and the back lacks a lipid layer composed of high-moisture fat, making it more prone to dryness.

 

The back isn't a part of the body we use frequently in our daily lives or get frequent stretching. Unlike our hands and feet, it's not a part we use as much, so blood circulation isn't smooth. Without adequate blood flow, oxygen supply and waste removal aren't adequate, making it prone to dryness and itchiness.

Back itchiness due to aging isn't solved by scratching alone. Scratching with your hands or a filial piety hand only provides temporary relief, and the itchiness eventually returns. Since you can't always ask your family to scratch your back, applying moisturizer is essential to address the root cause. Applying moisturizer helps the skin retain moisture.

Moisturizers are more effective when applied to damp skin rather than completely dry. After showering, gently pat dry with a towel and apply moisturizer within 3-5 minutes. Moisturizers typically contain humectants and occlusive agents, which means they absorb better when the skin is damp. For example, humectants are substances with a strong affinity for moisture, attracting moisture from the surrounding environment to maintain the skin barrier.

 

If you still feel itchy even after applying moisturizer, you may need to review your shower habits. If you shower with water that's too hot, it can easily strip away moisture from your skin, disrupting its oil-water balance and exacerbating dryness and itchiness. It's best to shower with lukewarm water within 20 minutes. Additionally, it's important to regularly stretch your back to promote blood circulation.

 

Meanwhile, if your back is severely itchy, it may not simply be due to dry skin. People with diabetes, shingles, liver disease, contact dermatitis, or kidney disease can also experience itchy skin. If your itchy skin is accompanied by symptoms of one of these conditions, it's best to carefully examine it and seek medical attention.

 

 

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I thought it was because of the season

 

The reason why your back becomes especially itchy as you get older

As the skin ages, sweat secretion increases.

Because the exocrine glands decrease,

In particular, the back is said to dry out easily because it has fewer sebaceous glands than other areas.

 

That's why my back feels so itchy.