KBS program to explore causes and new treatments for geriatric pruritus

An episode of Mysteries of the Human Body airing October 21, 2026, on KBS 1TV will examine various causes of geriatric pruritus, including nodular pruritus and cholestatic pruritus, while exploring new biological agent therapies and wearable measurement technologies.

Episode 1012 of Mysteries of the Human Body: Pruritus in the Elderly, which is more dangerous the more you scratch.

Causes of itching vary widely, including aging, nodules, scars, and scabies. What are the customized treatments for the causes of "geriatric pruritus"?

The program will air on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 10:00 PM on KBS 1TV. In this episode of Mysteries of the Human Body, the show will track the reality and various causes of geriatric pruritus, which disrupts the daily lives of the elderly, and seek ways to end intense itching through latest treatments and new research.

Were you fine when you were young, but now your whole body itches as you age? Jeon Sun-ae (78) finds even ordinary daily life difficult due to full-body itching that occurs at all times. Her itching intensity is a 10 out of 10. The cause of the sudden itching was related to skin aging. In old age, as the skin's ability to retain moisture and its barrier function decline, one can easily feel itching from even small stimuli. However, itching in the elderly should not be regarded simply as a phenomenon of aging. Since itching can appear even without noticeable skin lesions in old age, it is important to examine the causes carefully.

Itching that cannot be stopped even when scratching causes bleeding! Nodular pruritus. Kim Gyo-gap (68) has suffered from itching for 10 years. His skin, from his scalp to his legs, is full of hard, protruding nodules. Inflammatory signals make the sensory nerves more sensitive, eventually reaching a state where it is difficult to resist the urge to scratch through willpower alone. The itching Kim Gyo-gap suffers from is nodular pruritus, which is the most extreme form of itching among geriatric pruritus. The program will highlight Kim Gyo-gap's nodular pruritus and seek customized treatments.

Is itching a red light for internal diseases? The reality of itching occurring after surgery. Lee Jun-ho (63) scrapes off handfuls of dead skin with a rough stone before showering. He has plucked his eyebrows and hair due to extreme itching. The itching began suddenly about three years after his liver transplant surgery 10 years ago. Lee Jun-ho's itching was not a skin problem, but "cholestatic pruritus" related to hepatobiliary diseases. Itching can be a warning of serious internal diseases. This is why it is important not to overlook itching in old age and to find the exact cause.

Itching that cannot be solved with topical medications, what is the effectiveness of the latest treatments? Chronic itching in geriatric pruritus must be treated in stages according to the cause and the severity of symptoms. For patients who cannot be sufficiently controlled by existing treatments such as moisturizers, topical medications, and antihistamines, new treatments may be an option. Noh Seong-gi (80) also suffered from severe itching for a long time. He was treated with immunomodulators, but there were several limitations to long-term use. Later, Noh Seong-gi received biological agent injection therapy. The program will explore new drugs such as biological agents and targeted therapies that selectively block specific signals involved in itching and inflammation.

Pruritus that started while trying to remove a mole! The danger of incorrect skin irritation. Jo Myeong-ja (67) injured her skin after applying a mixture of vinegar and flour to remove a mole. Since then, scars have remained on the damaged skin, and the itching has continued for more than two and a half years. This is "pruritic scarring," where continuous itching occurs at the site of wounds and scars. Medical staff are controlling the itching and inflammation through biological agent drug therapy. Kim Gyo-gap, who previously suffered from nodular pruritus, also underwent biological agent treatment like Jo Myeong-ja. The skin changes, which were full of hard nodules, in Kim Gyo-gap will be revealed.

Scabies in this day and age? Scabies itching. Yoo Seong-yong (pseudonym, 87) visited the hospital due to unbearable itching day and night. The cause was "scabies mites," which are too small to be seen. Scabies is a contagious skin disease where scabies mites parasitize the skin, causing extreme itching and rashes. Symptoms particularly appear in specific areas such as between the fingers and the buttocks, and it can be transmitted to others through skin contact or bedding and clothing. The program will examine the infection and the risk of transmission caused by tiny scabies mites.

New possibilities for treating geriatric pruritus: Non-face-to-face consultation & wearable itching measurement. As the number of geriatric pruritus patients increases due to the aging population, non-face-to-face collaborative consultations connecting nursing facilities and university hospitals are being attempted for elderly patients with mobility issues. This helps patients who find it difficult to visit the hospital directly to examine their skin condition with specialists and receive necessary treatment. Meanwhile, research on technology to objectively quantify itching, like body temperature or blood pressure, is actively underway. This method involves using wearable devices based on accelerometer and gyroscope sensors that detect wrist movements to accurately measure and analyze scratching behavior. If the degree of itching can be objectively evaluated, it will help evaluate treatment responses and determine appropriate treatment directions. The program will examine how non-face-to-face collaboration and precision measurement technology will lower the threshold for treatment for elderly patients with mobility issues and bring changes to the management of geriatric pruritus. The reality of geriatric pruritus that we did not know well and the latest treatment methods will be revealed on October 21, 2026, at 10:00 PM on KBS 1TV 'Mysteries of the Human Body,' showing ways to escape the pain of itching and regain a comfortable old age.

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