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Treatment

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

This disorder is typically resistant to treatment (1).

  • local treatments used in this condition include:
    • emollients - cooling applications such as 0.5% menthol in aqueous cream
    • oral antihistamines taken at night to reduce pruritus and allow sleep
    • topical steroid creams - may be applied occlusion
    • coal tar ointment as steroid alternative
    • other local treatments that have been used in this condition include:
      • calcipotriol ointment
      • capsaicin cream
      • pulsed dye laser
      • topical tacrolimus 0.1% has been shown to be effective in a case report (1)
      • cryotherapy - thought to cause destruction of sensory nerves and impairment of nerve regeneration
  • systemic treatments used in this condition include:
    • ciclosporin has been reported to be successful in managing nodular prurigo when administered orally (2)
    • thalidomide
    • phototherapy (UVB and PUVA)
    • naltrexone has been reported to have a high antipruritic effect in patients with prurigo nodularis (4)

Reference:

  1. Edmonds EV et al. Nodular prurigo responding to topical tacrolimus. Br J Dermatol. 2004 Jun;150(6):1216-7
  2. Woo PN et al. Br J Dermatol. 2000 Jul;143(1):215-6.
  3. Berth-Jones J, Smith SG, Graham-Brown RAC. Nodular prurigo responds to cyclosporin. Br J Dermatol 1995; 132: 795–9.
  4. Lee MR, Shumack S. Prurigo nodularis: a review. Australas J Dermatol. 2005 Nov;46(4):211-18

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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