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Review
. 2011 Jun;30(2):118-26.
doi: 10.1016/j.sder.2011.04.008.

Topical therapies for pruritus

Sarina B Elmariah  1 , Ethan A Lerner
Affiliations
Review

Topical therapies for pruritus

Sarina B Elmariah et al. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Itch, or pruritus, is the predominant symptom associated with acute and chronic cutaneous disease, and in some cases may be debilitating. To date, there is no single universally effective anti-itch treatment. Because the pathophysiology of itch in most cutaneous or systemic disorders remains unclear, antipruritic therapy is often directed against a variety of targets, including the epidermal barrier, immune system, or the nervous system. Topical therapy is the mainstay of dermatologic management of acute or localized itch or in patients with contraindications to systemic therapies. This review will summarize current topical therapies to treat pruritus and discuss potential future therapies.

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References

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