I t’s amazing how distracting a nagging itch can be — all consuming sometimes. So it was my plight recently when a relentless dry patch on my arm wouldn’t give me any peace. It got me thinking about itching in general, which then led to a quick Internet search out of curiosity to see what I could find on this topic. What I found was very interesting. Maybe most dermatologists already know this, but maybe not. Did you know that there are new categories used to describe different itches and that there is an International Forum for the Study of the Itch? In fact, just last fall the Second International Workshop for the Study of Itch was held in Japan to discuss a wide range of topics, including the “pleasure of scratch is a complex sensation of itch and pain” and “nocturnal scratching and sleep disturbances in adult patients with atopic dermatitis.” Wake Forest University also has a Web site dedicated to itchy people and the researchers trying to solve their itches. Itchforum.org offers discussion forums for both these groups of people. While reading some of the various links that popped up when I did my Internet search, I came across an article that discussed a team of researchers who met recently to devise specific categories of itch. They came up with four categories, which were highlighted in American Medical News. They are as follows: • Pruritoceptive Itch. This type of itch originates in the skin and is caused by inflammation, dryness or other skin damage. Examples include an itch due to hives, insect bites or scabies. • Neuropathic Itch. This type of itch is from pathology at any point along the afferent pathway. Examples include postherpetic neuralgia itch and itch associated with multiple sclerosis and brain tumors. • Neurogenic Itch. Originating centrally without evidence of neural pathology, this type of itch can take the form of the itch of cholestasis or the action of opioid neuropeptides on opioid receptors. • Psychogenic Itch. These types of itches stem from psychological issues; for example, they could be the result of a compulsive disorder. Hope you find this “rash” of information helpful. Larisa Hubbs Executive Editor lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
An Itch Isn’t Just an Itch
I t’s amazing how distracting a nagging itch can be — all consuming sometimes. So it was my plight recently when a relentless dry patch on my arm wouldn’t give me any peace. It got me thinking about itching in general, which then led to a quick Internet search out of curiosity to see what I could find on this topic. What I found was very interesting. Maybe most dermatologists already know this, but maybe not. Did you know that there are new categories used to describe different itches and that there is an International Forum for the Study of the Itch? In fact, just last fall the Second International Workshop for the Study of Itch was held in Japan to discuss a wide range of topics, including the “pleasure of scratch is a complex sensation of itch and pain” and “nocturnal scratching and sleep disturbances in adult patients with atopic dermatitis.” Wake Forest University also has a Web site dedicated to itchy people and the researchers trying to solve their itches. Itchforum.org offers discussion forums for both these groups of people. While reading some of the various links that popped up when I did my Internet search, I came across an article that discussed a team of researchers who met recently to devise specific categories of itch. They came up with four categories, which were highlighted in American Medical News. They are as follows: • Pruritoceptive Itch. This type of itch originates in the skin and is caused by inflammation, dryness or other skin damage. Examples include an itch due to hives, insect bites or scabies. • Neuropathic Itch. This type of itch is from pathology at any point along the afferent pathway. Examples include postherpetic neuralgia itch and itch associated with multiple sclerosis and brain tumors. • Neurogenic Itch. Originating centrally without evidence of neural pathology, this type of itch can take the form of the itch of cholestasis or the action of opioid neuropeptides on opioid receptors. • Psychogenic Itch. These types of itches stem from psychological issues; for example, they could be the result of a compulsive disorder. Hope you find this “rash” of information helpful. Larisa Hubbs Executive Editor lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
I t’s amazing how distracting a nagging itch can be — all consuming sometimes. So it was my plight recently when a relentless dry patch on my arm wouldn’t give me any peace. It got me thinking about itching in general, which then led to a quick Internet search out of curiosity to see what I could find on this topic. What I found was very interesting. Maybe most dermatologists already know this, but maybe not. Did you know that there are new categories used to describe different itches and that there is an International Forum for the Study of the Itch? In fact, just last fall the Second International Workshop for the Study of Itch was held in Japan to discuss a wide range of topics, including the “pleasure of scratch is a complex sensation of itch and pain” and “nocturnal scratching and sleep disturbances in adult patients with atopic dermatitis.” Wake Forest University also has a Web site dedicated to itchy people and the researchers trying to solve their itches. Itchforum.org offers discussion forums for both these groups of people. While reading some of the various links that popped up when I did my Internet search, I came across an article that discussed a team of researchers who met recently to devise specific categories of itch. They came up with four categories, which were highlighted in American Medical News. They are as follows: • Pruritoceptive Itch. This type of itch originates in the skin and is caused by inflammation, dryness or other skin damage. Examples include an itch due to hives, insect bites or scabies. • Neuropathic Itch. This type of itch is from pathology at any point along the afferent pathway. Examples include postherpetic neuralgia itch and itch associated with multiple sclerosis and brain tumors. • Neurogenic Itch. Originating centrally without evidence of neural pathology, this type of itch can take the form of the itch of cholestasis or the action of opioid neuropeptides on opioid receptors. • Psychogenic Itch. These types of itches stem from psychological issues; for example, they could be the result of a compulsive disorder. Hope you find this “rash” of information helpful. Larisa Hubbs Executive Editor lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
