Pruritus of skin

Pruritus of skin, commonly referred to as cutaneous itching, is an unpleasant neurosensory symptom affecting the integumentary system that provokes an urge to scratch It occurs across diverse patient populations and can arise from primary dermatologic disorders, systemic illnesses such as renal or hepatobiliary disease, neuropathic disruptions, or psychogenic etiologies Pathophysiologically, the sensation is mediated by specialized unmyelinated C-nerve fibers and A-delta afferent fibers within t...

Pruritus of skin, commonly referred to as cutaneous itching, is an unpleasant neurosensory symptom affecting the integumentary system that provokes an urge to scratch

It occurs across diverse patient populations and can arise from primary dermatologic disorders, systemic illnesses such as renal or hepatobiliary disease, neuropathic disruptions, or psychogenic etiologies

Pathophysiologically, the sensation is mediated by specialized unmyelinated C-nerve fibers and A-delta afferent fibers within the epidermis and dermo-epidermal junction These fibers are stimulated by various histaminergic and non-histaminergic pruritogens—including cytokines, neuropeptides, proteases, and prostaglandins—which transmit itch signals via dorsal root ganglia and spinothalamic pathways to the cerebral cortex

These fibers are stimulated by various histaminergic and non-histaminergic pruritogens—including cytokines, neuropeptides, proteases, and prostaglandins—which transmit itch signals via dorsal root ganglia and spinothalamic pathways to the cerebral cortex

Repetitive mechanical scratching in response to the sensation frequently compromises epidermal barrier integrity, exacerbating localized inflammation and perpetuating an itch-scratch cycle