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Until recently, pruritus was considered a kind of weak or dull pain. Today it is known that this is the primary type of superficial sensation, and its appearance may indicate a number of ailments, including a developing neoplastic disease.
- Itching is common. It is estimated to affect from 12 to 20 percent. population
- Itching occurs in many diseases. It is known from epidemiological studies that it affects virtually all patients with atopic dermatitis, over 80 percent. patients with psoriasis, 30-60 percent. with cirrhosis of the liver and chronic kidney disease
- Itching also accompanies lichen planus, dermatitis herpetiformis and pemphigoid. It also occurs in pregnancy dermatoses and scabies
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
It is also estimated that over 50 percent. people over 60 years of age within a week, he feels itching, which is most likely related to the emerging and increasing dryness of the skin, which becomes more susceptible to external factors.
When can pruritus herald cancer?
Chronic itching, lasting more than six weeks, may be the first sign of an ongoing neoplastic process. Often many years ahead of the appearance of other symptoms of the disease. It occurs in both proliferative diseases of the lymphatic system (Hodgkin’s lymphomas, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, leukemias, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, Hodgkin’s disease) and in diseases with damage to the nervous system (brain tumor).
Itching in hematological diseases
Pruritus is an important and often the only symptom of hematological diseases. It is estimated that it concerns about 30 percent. patients with Hodgkin’s disease, 10% patients with lymphomas and 5 percent. patients with leukemia. Pruritus is a very common symptom of cutaneous primary lymphomas and affects as much as 90% of patients. sick. It happens that pruritus is many years ahead of the clinical manifestation of these diseases.
The rest of the article is available under the video.
Paraneoplastic pruritus
In addition to hematological neoplasms, pruritus may also be a manifestation of malignant solid tumors. Generalized pruritus may be the only manifestation of carcinoid, breast, stomach, lung, colon, anus, vulva or prostate cancer. Occasionally, some neoplasms cause limited, localized itching. For example, it is known that itching of the scrotum may be evidence of prostate cancer, itching of the vulva may be evidence of cervical cancer, and itching of the perianal area may be rectal cancer.
What to do if the itching continues?
You should go to your family doctor as soon as possible, who will properly guide the diagnosis. However, you need to be patient, because the diagnosis of chronic pruritus is often not easy. What will the doctor do? Most likely, he will order a number of basic tests (mainly blood tests), and if necessary, or if the clinical picture is unclear, he will refer you to hospital diagnostics.
How can I help myself?
Proper skin care, giving up soaps, using dermocosmetic cleansers that do not change the pH of the skin, as well as wearing light, airy clothing, avoiding tight and woolen clothes are very important. It is also recommended to use emollients and other antipruritic or anesthetic preparations on a regular basis. Some of them are supplemented with polidocanol, which significantly reduces the troublesome itching sensation.
Polar Frost pain relieving cooling gel can be found in Medonet Market
In the case of very severe itching, it is worth choosing to cut the nails in order to reduce the risk of skin damage. A proper diet is also important, i.e. elimination of caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods.
A number of studies on the pathomechanism of pruritus have proven that severe, prolonged pruritus not only significantly reduces the quality of life of people affected by it, but is also much more difficult to bear even than severe pain. Therefore, when the first disturbing ailments appear, it is worth seeking medical advice to find out if there is a more serious disease behind the seemingly insignificant itching.