Prurigo simplex is a chronic and itchy skin disease that causes nodules and lesions. It is triggered by various factors, including allergies and stress. Treatment options include corticosteroid creams, photochemotherapy, and avoiding triggers.
Prurigo simplex is an itchy skin disease characterized by extremely itchy skin nodules and lesions. Usually, there is no known direct cause of prurigo simplex, but certain factors are known to trigger or exacerbate it. This condition falls between chronic and acute, sometimes transitioning into a chronic condition. Many people experience a recurrence of the condition after periods of remission. Middle-aged patients are the age group most prone to this condition.
The most common symptoms of prurigo simplex are insect bite-like skin nodules that are intensely itchy. These nodules are often scratched and opened, becoming lesions that continue to itch. Sometimes the skin thickens and discolors around the nodules. The scalp, arms, legs and trunk of the body are the most frequent sites of bumps and lesions. The itching can become severe and habitual, making the condition worse and possibly causing infection in the open sores.
Sometimes the nodules become less itchy and eventually disappear leaving a discolored area or scar tissue. The same nodules can persist for months or even years, however, without healing. Patients may experience a remission but then relapse with new nodules forming. The condition could also become chronic, with no periods of improvement and relief.
While the exact causes of prurigo simplex have not been determined, it is thought that there are many aggravating factors that can trigger the condition. In some cases they are extreme factors of cold, heat or sunlight. Food, drug, and other allergies can trigger prurigo simplex. The condition also appears to be triggered or exacerbated by emotional stress. Chronic infections such as sinusitis and endocrine or metabolic disorders may also play a role.
Treatment with Prurigo simplex is sometimes difficult, as common treatments for other skin conditions aren’t always effective. Corticosteroid creams and ultraviolet light treatments sometimes work. One promising treatment is photochemotherapy with psoralen in the form of a psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) film bath. The patient is immersed in a psoralen solution and then exposed to ultraviolet A radiation in a series of treatments. Psoralen is a plant-derived compound that makes cells more sensitive to the effects of ultraviolet light.
Additional prurigo simplex treatments include steroid injections into the nodules as well as antihistamines and tranquilizers. Patients are advised to avoid strong sunlight, extreme temperatures, and activities that cause the body to overheat. If emotional stress is one of your triggers, learning how to manage your stress can help ease your symptoms. Determine if allergies are contributing to the problem, then avoiding the allergen could result in improvement in prurigo simplex.
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