Neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis is a skin condition that causes intense itching of your skin, leading to more itching when you scratch the affected skin area. It can affect any part of your body, but your scalp, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, ankles and legs are more commonly affected.

The cause is unknown and symptoms are often similar to other common skin disorders. You will need treatment to manage this condition.

The common symptoms of neurodermatitis include:

• Dry patches on your skin.
• Intense itching that worsens when you scratch.
• Redness or dark discolouration on your skin.
• Skin that feels leathery.
• Sleeping poorly because of the itching.
• Loss of hair on the affected area.
• Wounds and infection from the repeated scratching.

The cause of neurodermatitis is unknown.

The things that put you at risk are:

• High levels of stress or anxiety.
• Having skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
• Having naturally dry skin.
• Wearing tight clothing made from synthetic materials. The fabrics are likely to cause friction and irritate your skin.
• Having an anxiety disorder.
• The condition is most common among people aged 30-50 years.

Once you start having itching that does not go away when you treat it or it gets worse when you scratch, see your healthcare provider.

You can take general skincare measures to prevent neurodermatitis, like:

• Making sure that your skin is not dry.
• Managing your stress and anxiety levels well.
• Treat any other skin condition that you may have promptly.

Self-care tips:

The condition gets worse when you scratch the affected skin area. The aim of self-care is to reduce itching and scratching:

• Use over-the-counter steroid creams.
• Use over-the-counter antihistamine medications to relieve itching at bedtime.
• Cover the affected skin with bandages, socks or gloves.
• Take cool baths and apply a cold compress to your skin.
• Use moisturisers, so your skin is not dry.
• Wear loose clothes that can breathe and do not irritate your skin.

Treatment options:

Your healthcare provider may:

• Inject steroids or other drugs into your skin.
• Treat your anxiety or depression with medication or therapy.
• Perform surgery to remove the itchy patches.

Having neurodermatitis can be very frustrating, primarily because of the itch-scratch cycle. It can disturb your sleep and daily activities. It is essential to seek treatment early to get used to managing your symptoms. The condition is not contagious: you cannot infect another person.