Neurodermatitis
Everyone knows what an itch feels like. Some people know what an itch that won’t quit feels like. An itch that requires scratching and scratching and scratching—scratching that develops a habit, destroys, the skin, and creates a problem. That problem is known as neurodermatitis. In layman’s term, it’s called scratch dermatitis. Others call it lichen simplex chronicus. Whatever you call it, neurodermatitis is annoying, although it is not serious.
Symptoms
It’s relatively easy to identify neurodermatitis. Got a patch of itchy skin? Won’t stop itching? Or maybe it just regularly recurs? Chances are, it’s a spot of neurodermatitis. Often, the skin becomes scaly, leathery, or thickened, usually after prolonged scratching. Some people develop a habit of scratching the area, even after the itchy sensation subsides. The frustrating thing about neurodermatitis is that the more you scratch it, the more it itches. It may occur anywhere on the body, but tends to mostly occur on the extremities (especially wrists and ankles), on the neck, thigh, or genital areas.
Causes
External factors may be a cause—environmental irritants such as certain chemicals, fabrics, or foods. However, other factors are primarily to blame. Dry skin, other forms of eczema, and even psoriasis may set off an occurrence of neurodermatitis. High stress levels also cause neurodermatitis. Those who have a family history of eczema are at a higher risk, as are women between the age of 30 and 50.
Treatment
The best form of treatment is die-hard self-control. Forcing yourself to stop scratching the infected area will allow the spot to heal on its own. You may wish to put a patch over the area to prevent yourself from scratching it, or place a small amount of ointment such as Vaseline over it to sooth the irritation and remind yourself not to scratch it. Like other serious skin conditions, neurodermatitis can be treated using oral corticosteroids or antihistamines, or topical antibiotics. Anti-itching creams provide some relief, as do cool wet compresses.
Complications
As the skin weakens and breaks open due to prolonged scratching, bacterial infection may set it. Others may experience scars or a permanent whitening of the skin.