bubble_chart Overview

Cutaneous pruritus is a skin disease characterized solely by cutaneous pruritus without primary skin lesions. Clinically, it can be divided into two types: generalized and localized cutaneous pruritus. The etiology of this disease is complex. Generalized cutaneous pruritus is often associated with certain chronic internal diseases, while local irritants are common external factors that trigger or exacerbate the condition, and are also closely related to localized cutaneous pruritus.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

1. Only cutaneous pruritus without primary skin lesions may lead to secondary lesions due to scratching; 2. The severity of cutaneous pruritus varies, often worsening paroxysmally and is related to factors such as mood, climate, and diet; 3. Some patients with recurrent episodes may develop symptoms of neurasthenia; 4. Localized cutaneous pruritus commonly occurs in the anal, scrotal, and vulvar regions.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

1. Only cutaneous pruritus without primary skin lesions, cutaneous pruritus has a certain regularity, varying in severity, and is influenced by multiple factors; 2. Repeated scratching may lead to secondary skin lesions, such as excoriations, blood crusts, pigmentation, lichenification, and eczema-like changes. In localized cutaneous pruritus, areas like the anus, scrotum, and vulva may develop localized skin thickening, rhagades, maceration, erosion, or eczema-like changes; 3. Some patients may also experience neurasthenia, folliculitis, pustules, furunculosis, lymphangitis, and lymphadenitis.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

Principles of Treatment
1. Exclude visceral diseases related to cutaneous pruritus and treat the underlying conditions; 2. Control external factors that may exacerbate cutaneous pruritus, such as scratching, hot water washing, and irritating diets; 3. Administer oral antihistamines and sedative-hypnotics; 4. For severe cases, intravenous calcium preparations or procaine intravenous block may be used; 5. For localized cases, superficial X-ray radiotherapy or local block may be applied; 6. Topical corticosteroid creams or various antipruritic agents can be used; 7. Elderly patients may be treated with sex hormones.

Principles of Medication
1. Generally, oral antihistamines and sedative-hypnotics are administered, along with topical corticosteroid creams or various antipruritic agents; 2. For severe cases, intravenous medications may be used, and any visceral diseases should be treated simultaneously; 3. Elderly patients may be treated with sex hormones—women should take them continuously for 22 days starting from the 5th day of the menstruation cycle, while men should take them for 14 days, pause for 1–2 weeks, and then resume.

bubble_chart Cure Criteria

1. Cure: cutaneous pruritus disappears; 2. Improvement: cutaneous pruritus alleviates; 3. No cure: skin lesions remain unchanged.