Evidence Levels: A Double-blind study B Clinical trial ≥ 20 subjects C Clinical trial < 20 subjects D Series ≥ 5 subjects E Anecdotal case reports Open full size image Introduction Chronic pruritus or itch, defined as present for more…
Key Points: Pruritus 1. Chronic pruritus can be debilitating, causing great distress to patients. 2. A patient with no obvious reason for having chronic itch and no primary skin rash needs a full workup with a thorough history, physical examination,…
Key features ▪ Two subsets of pruritoceptive C neurons that respond to histamine versus cowhage and then activate distinct spinothalamic tract neurons ▪ Peripheral itch mediators include histamine, proteases, and interleukin-31, while central itch mediators include opioids, gastrin-releasing peptide, and…
Key Points Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a highly prevalent, chronic, multisystem disease that affects the skin at some point of the disease in up to 70% of affected individuals. Although the etiology is often unknown, the pathogenesis of many cutaneous…
Key Points Chronic itch can occur without primary skin rash associated with underlying systemic diseases. Itch can be the presenting symptom of lymphoma and hepatic diseases. Chronic systemic itch is associated with imbalance of μ versus κ opioids. Topical antipruritic…
Key points Itch and pain are key symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) that significantly affect quality of life; various classes of treatment aim to reduce these symptoms. Nonpharmacologic and topical therapies are effective for mild or moderate itch or pain…
Key points Both itch and pain are very frequent symptoms in patients with atopic dermatitis, with a prevalence of more than 50%. Patients with atopic dermatitis show neuronal sensitization to both itch and pain. Itch neuronal sensitization is associated with…