This condition is part of the rare diseases due to its low incidence in the population, however, there are treatments developed to reduce the itching of the skin.
By: Luisa Ochoa
Dr. José González Chávez, dermatologist and researcher in diseases of the furexplained in an interview for the Medicine Magazine and Health Public, the main characteristics of nodular prurigo, its possible triggers and treatments for the patients.
“Los patients They usually have many nodules on the body, sometimes up to more than 100. Each one of these nodules gives an intense itch that interferes with daily living, with sleep and also with the stigma of the presence of these nodules that protrude from the skin. fur and they look unpleasant for the patient and the people who see it, ”said the expert.
The name of prurigo comes from itchy and nodular, it refers to the lesion, which presents with nodules. Furthermore, it is one of the pruritic lesions of the fur that cause intense itching and stinging in the patients.
Factors associated with the appearance of nodular prurigo
The cause of this condition is unknown, but possible triggers related to stress, suffering from chronic conditions, and nervous system problems have been associated.
“Prurigo nodularis can be a disease that one does not find a cause for, but it can occur as a result of disorders that include diseases such as diabetes, neuropsychiatric disorders, kidney and liver diseases, even certain types of cancer such as lymphoma” explained Dr. Chávez.
On the subject, the doctor emphasized that if a doctor receives a patient with prurigo nodularis for the first time, they should investigate the possible associated causes, including diseases of the fur.
“The first thing one has to assess when seeing a patient for the first time is whether the prurigo nodularis has an associated cause or if it has a reason for being, because the patient may have another condition, the most common being atopic dermatitis” Chavez said.
Relationship between prurigo nodulares and mental health
The specialist also mentioned that “one of the factors associated with this are neuropsychiatric disorders, people with bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, people with anxiety. The reality is that when you look at these lesions, you are going to see fine nerves in the fur that are unleashed and those are responsible for causing the symptoms presented by the patients”.
The medical literature reports that the patient who has nodular prurigo not only experiences itching in the lesion, but also presents secondary lesions such as scratches and dryness due to the same chronic scratching.
“Today we know that these itching triggers are mediated by fibers and that this is related to the immune system. Certain proteins that we know as cytokines can activate these small fibers so that they unleash the intense itch that the patientsThis has resulted in the advent of new treatments that are aimed at blocking this signal from receptors and nerves so that itching does not trigger ”, he stated.
See the full program here.
