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Related Experiment Videos

Correlations between histamine-induced wheal, flare and itch

U Darsow1, J Ring, E Scharein

  • 1Institute of Physiology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Archives of Dermatological Research
|July 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Skin prick tests effectively induce prolonged itch and flare reactions, unlike iontophoresis which causes transient itch and larger wheals. Histamine release duration, not stimulus intensity, influences itch sensation and flare response.

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Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Histamine is a key mediator of itch and skin reactions like wheal and flare.
  • Understanding the relationship between itch intensity and visible skin reactions is crucial for diagnosing and treating pruritic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between subjective itch and objective skin reactions (wheal and flare) induced by histamine.
  • To compare the efficacy of skin prick and iontophoresis in eliciting itch and skin reactions.

Main Methods:

  • 15 male volunteers participated in a repeated measures design.
  • Histamine (1%) was administered intradermally via standardized skin prick and iontophoresis (0.13 mA or 2.0 mA for 10 s).
  • Itch was rated on a computerized visual analogue scale; skin reactions (wheal and flare diameters) were measured at peak response.

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Main Results:

  • Skin prick induced stronger and longer-lasting itch sensations compared to iontophoresis.
  • Iontophoresis generated larger wheals than skin prick.
  • While higher current increased responses, stimulus intensity was not the primary driver of correlation; skin prick-induced flare correlated with itch intensity.

Conclusions:

  • The duration of histamine release, rather than the method of delivery or stimulus intensity, significantly impacts itch sensation and flare response.
  • Skin prick allows for sustained histamine release, leading to prolonged itch and flare, while iontophoresis provides a brief histamine bolus.
  • Wheal formation appears to be an independent phenomenon from itch and flare mechanisms in this context.