This is a skin disease that can cause hard and itchy lumps (also called nodules) to form on your skin. The itching (which is known as pruritus) can be intense which is causing people to scratch themselves to the point of pain or bleeding. This scratching can cause more skin lesions to appear. Also, the itching can be worsened by irritation from clothing, sweating, and heat. There are some cases when people who have prurigo nodularis can have a history of other diseases, such as kidney disease, severe anemia, HIV infection, lymphoma, and eczema. It is not known the exact cause for prurigo nodularis. It is known that the scratching can cause more nodules to appear but it is not known what is causing the itching to develop in the first place. The diagnosis of prurigo nodularis is based on observing signs, such as the extremely itchy skin which is happening with the formation of nodules. There are some cases when a skin biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment of prurigo nodularis can include photochemotherapy, cryotherapy, oral medications, and corticosteroid creams. There are some studies in which are said that the prurigo nodularis is not passed directly from parents to children. This is due to the changes in the specific genes and this is not thought to cause prurigo nodularis. But there are some cases when the prurigo nodularis can be associated with having other skin diseases, allergies or other health problems. There are many people with prurigo nodularis who also have family members with the same health problems. It is thought that family members who have someone with prurigo nodularis have an increased risk of developing prurigo nodularis themselves. This can be related to the shared genetic factors and environmental factors which could be cause for the underlying disease.
Prurigo Nodularis Symptoms:
The formation of hard and very itchy lumps on the skin is the main symptom of prurigo nodularis. These nodules can range in the size from very small to about half an inch in diameter. These nodules have rough and dry top and they can range in number from a few to hundreds. These nodules are most commonly forming on the legs, shoulders and outer arms. Also, these nodules can form on the trunk and neck and in rare cases they can form on the palms and face. These nodules can be darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. Also, scarring can happen after nodules begin to heal. The symptoms of the prurigo nodularis can happen at any age but they are most common in adults between 20 and 60 years. Those people who have prurigo nodularis can become very concerned about the appearance of their nodules and the intensely itchy skin can interfere with the sleep or with daily activities. This can be a reason why some people develop depression and stress. You need to talk with your doctor if your skin is intensely itching to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Prurigo Nodularis Causes:
It is not known the exact cause for prurigo nodularis. It is thought that nodules can happen on the skin which has been irritated or scratched in some way. This means that when a person is scratching his skin, then nodules can happen. But the cause for the skin to become intensely itchy is not known. There are many people who suffer from prurigo nodularis who have a history of eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), other skin conditions or allergies. When people diagnosed with prurigo nodularis have a skin biopsy, then it can be seen that their nerves in the skin are thickened. There are some studies in which are said that these thickened nerves can send stronger signals to the brain that the skin is itchy. This is causing the person to scratch his skin which is causing more nodules to form and his nerves become even more thickened. This cycle is known as the itch-scratch cycle and it is thought that it is causing an increase in the number of nodules that are associated with prurigo nodularis. But it is not known why the skin becomes itchy and the cause can vary from one person to another.
