My 89-year-old patient is complaining that her skin is itching and burning. She has dementia, and it looks like a rash. What could it be?

Good Morning,

Make sure there is not an iron deficiency and some type of Vitamin deficiency.

Blood work will tell about electrodes too.

What soap is she using. Ivory is awful, makes the skin dry. We stopped using Dove because it itched. I now use Olay, DH has not complained and niece used it on daughters dry skin and worked. Deodorant soaps dry skin too. New Detergent.

Bandages for skin tears. My daughter used peristrips on my Mom. You just wait till they come off on their own. Helps give u the ability to bring the skin back together. Doesn't always work.

Aunt (94) kept complaining about her skin we started really being aggressive about lotion daily (aveeno). Her scalp was very itchy & we began using a scalp serum. She also does very well with Aveeno gentle baby body wash.
This gave her a lot of relief and seems to have solved the issues. Their poor bodies are like a desert!

Have you tried cortisone cream?

Geriatric skin is just so delicate.. you look or touch it the wrong way, and it can tear…
no more bandaids.. bandaids would take mom’s skin with it..
Call the pharmacist.. they may be able to suggest something over the counter..

maybe calmoseptin? It’d need to be isolated, not throughout.
cellulitis is not fun, and that can be irritating from inside to out.
it’s the weekend.. ask pharmacist

wash her hands.. is she scratching herself? That csn make things worse.
Is there a pattern?

try caladryl lotion?
ifvits isolated spots

Allergy?
flea or bug bites?
crllulitis?
pollen?
lotion?
is she on new meds?
if so, ask for a different one.. did she get a flu shot or anything?
covid test is negative?
westher been dry or changed?
benedryl if she’s not allergic to it.
any new supplements with shellfish? Allergies to nuts?
Perhaps her dictor should run some tests.. blood work, CT SCAN, etc. weed out things that are not the cause..,
UTI? Can you give her a bath with epsom salt? That’s usually soothing.
Hopefully you csn get To the root of the problem.
have the filters been changed the the heater ?

This is a question for her MD. We are in no way qualified to guess at what this could be.

Where is the rash? All over? Or only a certain part of her body?

Has she started any new medications? Is she taking current medications correctly?

Has there been a change in her shower or laundry products?

Is the rash present all the time or does something seem to trigger its appearance (like a food allergy)?

Itchy rashes can have so many causes. Start by thinking about what has changed in her environment.