Topical therapies for pruritus.

Itch, or pruritus, is the predominant symptom associated with acute and chronic cutaneous disease, and in some cases may be debilitating. To date, there is no single universally effective anti-itch treatment. Because the pathophysiology of itch in most cutaneous or systemic disorders remains unclear, antipruritic therapy is often directed against a variety of targets, including the epidermal barrier, immune system, or the nervous system. Topical therapy is the mainstay of dermatologic management of acute or localized itch or in patients with contraindications to systemic therapies. This review will summarize current topical therapies to treat pruritus and discuss potential future therapies.

Elmariah SB ，Lerner EA 《-》

Adjunctive Management of Itch in Atopic Dermatitis.

Itch, or pruritus, is a hallmark feature of atopic dermatitis (AD). The impact of AD-related pruritus can range from mildly distressing or distracting to completely disabling. Traditionally, management of itch in AD patients has focused on restoring the altered skin barrier with topical emollients and/or reducing inflammation. A growing emphasis has been placed on directly targeting the neural transmission pathways that mediate itch signaling. Off-label use of neuromodulatory agents has helped reduce this aggravating symptom in atopic patients. This article reviews the current literature on the use of neuromodulatory agents and nonpharmacologic alternative therapies used to treat AD-related pruritus.

Elmariah SB 《-》

Approach to the Patient with Chronic Pruritus.

Chronic pruritus (itch lasting ≥6 weeks) is a bothersome chief complaint that may present in a broad variety of diseases. Most itch-causing diagnoses fit into 1 of 5 categories (inflammatory, secondary to systemic disease, neuropathic, chronic pruritus of undetermined origin, and psychogenic itch) and this broad differential can be narrowed using key findings in the history and physical. In this article, we discuss which key findings are most pertinent for narrowing this differential and guiding further workup and treatment, as well as how to treat many itchy conditions.

Lipman ZM ，Ingrasci G ，Yosipovitch G 《-》

Itch in Atopic Dermatitis Management.

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) suffer from chronic inflammatory dermatitis and antihistamine-resistant itch. The management of intractable pruritus in AD is important, requiring the development of new therapeutic approaches. At present, the standard treatments for AD include topical anti-inflammatory drugs such as calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids. Topical emollient treatment is recommended to moisten the skin and to restore and maintain barrier function. Phototherapy is also effective in reducing the number of epidermal nerve fibers, normalizing imbalances in the levels of expression of axon guidance molecules, and inhibiting pruritus. Systemic treatments such as cyclosporine A and aprepitant are used to treat severe and intractable pruritus in AD. Clinical trials of dupilumab and CIM331 have displayed a significant reduction of pruritus in patients with AD. New antipruritic approaches are targeted to the central nervous system such as spinal interneurons and glial cells. This chapter describes therapeutic approaches for attenuating intractable itch in AD.

Kamata Y ，Tominaga M ，Takamori K 《-》

[Pruritus in elderly: diagnosis and treatment].

Leus AJG ，Meijer JM ，Zuidema SU ，Jonkman MF ... -  《-》