Systematic review of customised approaches for neurodermatitis: easing the urge to excoriate

Neurodermatitis is characterised by chronic itching and scratching. It greatly affects patients' quality of life, causing physical, emotional and social challenges. While dermatological treatments have improved, traditional therapies often fall short of meeting individual patient needs, especially in managing the persistent urge to scratch, which worsens the condition. The objective of this review study was to analyse the impact of tailored interventions on symptom reduction, particularly itching and excoriation.

The research question formulation on PICO served as the foundation for the search approach. Key words were searched in different combinations from the popular databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Boolean operators (AND and OR and NOT) and keywords were employed in the search, to avoid oversaturating the data. Some 12 full-text articles were selected for the study.

These findings provide encouraging evidence for the potential effectiveness of tailored approaches in managing neurodermatitis, in terms of reducing the symptoms of the urge to scratch. They emphasise the need for further research to validate and optimise these interventions. Adherence to treatment and high user satisfaction were prominent outcomes, with tailored interventions enhancing adherence.

Interventions customised to individual patient needs, such as tailored therapeutic regimens, combination therapies, counselling and biologic treatments, are highly effective in reducing excoriation urges, improving skin healing and enhancing quality of life. These approaches foster better adherence and satisfaction among patients. Future research should aim to optimise these strategies and to bridge existing gaps, ultimately enhancing outcomes and quality of life for individuals with neurodermatitis.