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Related Concept Videos

Sensory Functions of the Skin01:16

Sensory Functions of the Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers01:24

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
Chickenpox01:20

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists01:28

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy.  SP binds and activates these...
Diabetic Neuropathy01:22

Diabetic Neuropathy

DefinitionDiabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by long-standing diabetes mellitus. It results directly from prolonged high blood sugar levels.PathophysiologyThe pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy involves both metabolic and vascular disturbances triggered by chronic hyperglycemia.Metabolic injury: Elevated glucose levels activate the polyol pathway within nerve cells, leading to the accumulation of sorbitol and fructose. This increases oxidative stress, disrupts normal nerve...

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Itch Relief and Quality-of-Life Improvement with Abrocitinib and Dupilumab in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: A Post Hoc Analysis of JADE COMPARE and JADE DARE.

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Corticosteroid-Associated Adverse Events in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A US Claims Data Study.

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Association of morbid obesity with atopic dermatitis differs by race and sex in a dermatology clinic cohort.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
04:59

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors

Published on: September 27, 2019

Neuropathic and psychogenic itch.

Gil Yosipovitch1, Lena S Samuel

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. gyosipov@wfubmc.edu

Dermatologic Therapy
|March 6, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Neuropathic itch stems from nervous system damage, while psychogenic itch is linked to psychological conditions. Medications for neuropathic pain and mental health may help treat these understudied conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Neuropathic itch and psychogenic itch are distinct conditions that remain under-researched.
  • Neuropathic itch arises from damage anywhere in the nervous system's afferent pathway, affecting both peripheral and central nervous systems.
  • Psychogenic itch is associated with psychological disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and delusions of parasitosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the limited understanding of neuropathic and psychogenic itch.
  • To highlight the clinical features and potential treatment avenues for these conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of neuropathic and psychogenic itch.
  • Analysis of clinical presentations and proposed therapeutic strategies.

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Cutaneous Surgical Denervation: A Method for Testing the Requirement for Nerves in Mouse Models of Skin Disease

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Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses
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Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses

Published on: June 14, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
04:59

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors

Published on: September 27, 2019

Cutaneous Surgical Denervation: A Method for Testing the Requirement for Nerves in Mouse Models of Skin Disease
08:01

Cutaneous Surgical Denervation: A Method for Testing the Requirement for Nerves in Mouse Models of Skin Disease

Published on: June 26, 2016

Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses
09:07

Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses

Published on: June 14, 2020

Main Results:

  • Neuropathic itch presents with sensations of burning, aching, and stinging, similar to neuropathic pain.
  • Psychogenic itch is linked to psychiatric conditions.
  • While controlled studies are lacking, medications used for neuropathic pain, depression, and anxiety show potential efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Neuropathic and psychogenic itch require further investigation.
  • Pharmacological agents targeting neuropathic pain and psychiatric disorders may offer relief for patients suffering from these types of itch.