Chronic Itch Management: Therapies Beyond Those Targeting the Immune System

Itch, a sensation that leads to a desire to scratch, becomes chronic when it persists for more than 6 weeks.1 Chronic itch can be debilitating and lead to a significantly reduced quality of life. It affects sleep, mood, and can cause symptoms of anxiety and depression.2 Pruritus may be perpetuated by inflammatory conditions, as seen in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. However, chronic pruritus may not always have an inflammatory component, and therefore requires treatments that do not work on the immune system, but instead target the nerves.

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