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Clinical Trial
. 2009 Apr;34(3):324-8.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.03086.x. Epub 2009 Jan 23.

The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of lichen simplex: a prospective study

B Engin  1 , O Tufekci, A Yazici, M Ozdemir
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of lichen simplex: a prospective study

B Engin et al. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has recently emerged as a possible effective treatment for pruritic dermatoses. Lichen simplex (LS) is one such condition, which may persist despite intensive topical treatments.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of TENS treatment in relieving pruritus in lichen simplex.

Methods: In total, 22 patients with LS unresponsive to topical corticosteroids underwent TENS treatment. The patients rated the pruritus intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results: The mean reduction in VAS score from baseline to the end of 4 weeks treatment was 4.50 (95% CI 3.65-5.34) for all patients. The difference between the baseline and at the end of the study was significant (P < 0.01). By the end of the study, 18 (80%) of the subjects experienced a reduction in pruritus intensity of > 50%.

Conclusion: From our clinical observation, we suggest that TENS may prove to be a useful and well-tolerated treatment modality for the treatment of pruritus in patients with LS.

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