Here we go, here we go, here we go. Prurigo, Prurigo, Pru-ri-gooo-ooo.
The word is weird, but basically, prurigo is the name for raised and numerous itchy bumps (nodules) that form on your skin. They can develop and worsen if you continually scratch your skin. I had always wondered what it meant, hearing dermatology specialists mention it in reference to my own skin, and I’ve had patches of it in the same places for months, years sometimes and never seemed to get rid of it.
But I kept forgetting the word and then forgetting to be nice to my skin.
It was just the norm. Part of me, part of my skin. But you CAN get rid of it, sometimes it goes on its own, but sometimes the itch scratch cycle means it just gets worse and worse.
Prurigo eczema on my hand a wrist. Shows how dry my skin was
Well now I’ve sussed out how to get on top of this prurigo, with the help of my doctor, who finally explained that those hard, raised, thickened lumps, that seemed to appear in place of nasty eczema scabs, should go if we kept on treating them.
The answer is not to just ignore them and cover them up.
Hands much less dry and Prurigo gone (almost)
If you launch a sustained attack with steroids, just a tiny bit twice a day, and loads of emollient, and gradually reduce the strength of steroid as you go, eventually they do heal and slowly shed their layers and return to almost normal again. When they were feeling better I applied a bit of tea tree and aloe vera to aid healing, but when they’re really sore tea tree can be a bit harsh.
It takes time. Mine took about 1-2 months to go, but now it’s gone I don’t miss them at all. I’m also amazed at how badly I was actually treating my skin, especially my hands.
It does get boring putting on emollient ALL the time, but when you have dry skin you have to. And I was always neglecting my hands.
The change in them is amazing so keep on moisturising.
Bye bye prurigo and thumbs up to Dr John Reed who nagged me enough I finally listened and have banished mine for good (well, at least until the next attack of mad scratching).
Anyone else had this?
Did you find it hard to get rid of? How long did it take you and what did you use to help it heal?
Author of 'Anaphylaxis: The Essential Guide: An Action Plan For Living With Life-Threatening Allergies' and 'The Shape of Skin, both available as paperback or Kindle on Amazon. Ruth is a Writer, Blogger and Patient Expert in allergies, asthma, anaphylaxis, eczema and topical steroid withdrawal.
Comments
steve hankeysays
I also suffered for many years with severe prurigo nodularis and have started to benefit from treatment. As well as taking anti-histamines (I use Cetirizine and Fexofenadine) I would use steroid cream twice daily as well as emollient but then I wrap my affected areas in film wrap (cling-film) and secure with tubular stocking bandages. This has worked wonders for me as I stay totally moisturised all day and night due to the cling-film. Within 1 week I saw a dramatic change and am now well on the way to full recovery. One thing that I noticed was that if an area started to itch again I would take a look and find that the cling-film had come away from that area, I would re-cover it and the itch would subside.
It is also important to shower daily before re-applying the reatment. I know how devastating this disease can be for a lot of people, I hope that this works for others as it has for myself.
Thanks so much for your comment Steve. I get it really badly on my arms and forhead and the worst part about it is that it is soooo damn itchy and when you do scratch it I end up with worse and worse patches and it bleeds like crazy, leaving really obvious blood spillage on clothes. I am conquering mine though, instead of ignoring it, but mine doesn’t go away unless I really do moisturise like mad and apply steroids. It’s making my itch just thinking about it. Love the idea of cling film and stocking bandage though not sure that would work on my forhead! it would on my arms. If it gets bad again I’ll try that. I also take Fexofenadine too. And now mine is healing I wonder why I put up with it for so long…
Terrible condition. I’ve got it at the moment for a second time. The first time was 7 years ago and I was covered head to foot in itchy bumps. I spent most of the time covered up because I hated the stares I got. The only treatment that worked that time was light therapy. Unfortunately it’s come back again in time for Summer 🙁 , but not as widespread as my first bout. I’ve been taking Fexofenadine for years now and it doesn’t seem to be working any more. I sometimes take a stronger anti-histamine called Atarax at night and love getting an itch free night but it makes me feel very groggy the next day. I have a history of eczema, asthma and allergies and have been told that this is the reason I’ve got this skin condition. I liken the intense itchiness to being wrapped in a scratchy blanket with nettles and red ants – I could scream sometimes!
OH I know that feeling well, the ants, the itch, the nettles and the heat and the scratchy blanket. I am just getting over a flare of them. They take soooo long to heal and I’m not really sure what triggers mine. Drives me bonkers. Looks so unsightly too. There must be a reason why we get it? Surely. Hope yours clears up quickly.
I have suffered every year during the autumn/winter for 13 years, i moisturise and take antihistamines, atarax helps but does make me drowsy the next day. I really am fed up, as the itch is so intense. I am having light treatment, and i’m not sure if it is helping at the moment. I am still having hot flushes due to menopause, which makes it ten times worse at times. Grrrrr
Have you tried having a hot bath with sensitive skin bath oils like Organic Baby or Pure Potions? I always add some neat tea tree oil to my bath water too. I find that by exfoliating the nodules in the bath some of them heal quicker and kind of disintegrate. Not a cure but it can help when they get really bad. I am so sure that processed food makes mine worse. I have a wheat allergy and I think gluten free breads have something in them that always trigger an NP outbreak. I have many healing on my arms and shoulders now after eating a lot of GF bread last week. Not sure which ingredient but probably something nasty for mould reduction or something gross. Have you joined the Facebook group? Loads of support on there. I am currently having to wash clothes and bedding which is now covered with blood as NP bleeds so much.
This is a bit off the wall but I’ve also been trying oxygen therapy and I’m sure it helps the NP to heal quicker. Doesn’t heal it but sometimes the sores would stay for weeks, months even and bleed and bleed. Drives me mad. Seems to help a bit for me but we are all different. Good luck with the light treatment. Never tried that. And you are not alone. Nothing itches quite like eczema and NP in particular.
Thanks Ruth for replying, I will try those products, don’t think it’s food allergy as I only suffer in autumn/winter, seems cold makes it worse, funny enough. It’s reassuring i’m not the only one having this problems x wonder what causes it ? .
I have read cold and hot can make nodular prurigo worse. Not sure what you do about that though – you can’t just avoid cold weather unless you move somewhere hotter. Could be a plan?
Aha I get you. So you need to wrap up warm in cold weather but not get over heated… not easy! Have you tried natural merino base layers? I have always thought it would not suit me as merino is a wool but I now have quite a few vests and longs and they breathe so well and are so soft against my skin that they really help in winter when I am usually constantly switching between freezing cold and boiling hot. My skin and body doesn’t seem to regulate its temperature very well at all so I need loads of layers but then quite often need to tear them all off to just short sleeved vest to cool down. A total nightmare when you’re on a crowded tube train in your winter coat and SIX layers! Good luck with the NP anyway. How is it today?
M Johnsonsays
Hi, fellow sufferers, I have had Nodular Prurigo, foe about 19 years, and its a real pain.
I have no idea, what caused it to start, just the odd spot, here and there, mostly on my back and shoulders.
It has got worse, but, I just deal with it, have a bath, every day, soap seems to help.
Had the odd spot, on other areas, it realy upsets me when its on my face.
I am a spot picker, and this doesn’t help, wow they don’t half bleed.
Anyway, what cannot be cured, must be endured, ps, I cant wear wool.
I honestly think mine is made worse when I eat processed food. Worth a try if you can eat clean for a few weeks to see if it helps. And yes the bleed like an erupted volcano – nightmare.
I also suffered for many years with severe prurigo nodularis and have started to benefit from treatment. As well as taking anti-histamines (I use Cetirizine and Fexofenadine) I would use steroid cream twice daily as well as emollient but then I wrap my affected areas in film wrap (cling-film) and secure with tubular stocking bandages. This has worked wonders for me as I stay totally moisturised all day and night due to the cling-film. Within 1 week I saw a dramatic change and am now well on the way to full recovery. One thing that I noticed was that if an area started to itch again I would take a look and find that the cling-film had come away from that area, I would re-cover it and the itch would subside.
It is also important to shower daily before re-applying the reatment. I know how devastating this disease can be for a lot of people, I hope that this works for others as it has for myself.
Thanks so much for your comment Steve. I get it really badly on my arms and forhead and the worst part about it is that it is soooo damn itchy and when you do scratch it I end up with worse and worse patches and it bleeds like crazy, leaving really obvious blood spillage on clothes. I am conquering mine though, instead of ignoring it, but mine doesn’t go away unless I really do moisturise like mad and apply steroids. It’s making my itch just thinking about it. Love the idea of cling film and stocking bandage though not sure that would work on my forhead! it would on my arms. If it gets bad again I’ll try that. I also take Fexofenadine too. And now mine is healing I wonder why I put up with it for so long…
Terrible condition. I’ve got it at the moment for a second time. The first time was 7 years ago and I was covered head to foot in itchy bumps. I spent most of the time covered up because I hated the stares I got. The only treatment that worked that time was light therapy. Unfortunately it’s come back again in time for Summer 🙁 , but not as widespread as my first bout. I’ve been taking Fexofenadine for years now and it doesn’t seem to be working any more. I sometimes take a stronger anti-histamine called Atarax at night and love getting an itch free night but it makes me feel very groggy the next day. I have a history of eczema, asthma and allergies and have been told that this is the reason I’ve got this skin condition. I liken the intense itchiness to being wrapped in a scratchy blanket with nettles and red ants – I could scream sometimes!
OH I know that feeling well, the ants, the itch, the nettles and the heat and the scratchy blanket. I am just getting over a flare of them. They take soooo long to heal and I’m not really sure what triggers mine. Drives me bonkers. Looks so unsightly too. There must be a reason why we get it? Surely. Hope yours clears up quickly.
I have suffered every year during the autumn/winter for 13 years, i moisturise and take antihistamines, atarax helps but does make me drowsy the next day. I really am fed up, as the itch is so intense. I am having light treatment, and i’m not sure if it is helping at the moment. I am still having hot flushes due to menopause, which makes it ten times worse at times. Grrrrr
Have you tried having a hot bath with sensitive skin bath oils like Organic Baby or Pure Potions? I always add some neat tea tree oil to my bath water too. I find that by exfoliating the nodules in the bath some of them heal quicker and kind of disintegrate. Not a cure but it can help when they get really bad. I am so sure that processed food makes mine worse. I have a wheat allergy and I think gluten free breads have something in them that always trigger an NP outbreak. I have many healing on my arms and shoulders now after eating a lot of GF bread last week. Not sure which ingredient but probably something nasty for mould reduction or something gross. Have you joined the Facebook group? Loads of support on there. I am currently having to wash clothes and bedding which is now covered with blood as NP bleeds so much.
This is a bit off the wall but I’ve also been trying oxygen therapy and I’m sure it helps the NP to heal quicker. Doesn’t heal it but sometimes the sores would stay for weeks, months even and bleed and bleed. Drives me mad. Seems to help a bit for me but we are all different. Good luck with the light treatment. Never tried that. And you are not alone. Nothing itches quite like eczema and NP in particular.
Thanks Ruth for replying, I will try those products, don’t think it’s food allergy as I only suffer in autumn/winter, seems cold makes it worse, funny enough. It’s reassuring i’m not the only one having this problems x wonder what causes it ? .
I have read cold and hot can make nodular prurigo worse. Not sure what you do about that though – you can’t just avoid cold weather unless you move somewhere hotter. Could be a plan?
Ha ha, thats not an option ,hate hot weather with my hot flushes, but thanks anyway
Aha I get you. So you need to wrap up warm in cold weather but not get over heated… not easy! Have you tried natural merino base layers? I have always thought it would not suit me as merino is a wool but I now have quite a few vests and longs and they breathe so well and are so soft against my skin that they really help in winter when I am usually constantly switching between freezing cold and boiling hot. My skin and body doesn’t seem to regulate its temperature very well at all so I need loads of layers but then quite often need to tear them all off to just short sleeved vest to cool down. A total nightmare when you’re on a crowded tube train in your winter coat and SIX layers! Good luck with the NP anyway. How is it today?
Hi, fellow sufferers, I have had Nodular Prurigo, foe about 19 years, and its a real pain.
I have no idea, what caused it to start, just the odd spot, here and there, mostly on my back and shoulders.
It has got worse, but, I just deal with it, have a bath, every day, soap seems to help.
Had the odd spot, on other areas, it realy upsets me when its on my face.
I am a spot picker, and this doesn’t help, wow they don’t half bleed.
Anyway, what cannot be cured, must be endured, ps, I cant wear wool.
I honestly think mine is made worse when I eat processed food. Worth a try if you can eat clean for a few weeks to see if it helps. And yes the bleed like an erupted volcano – nightmare.
Same as me for 12 years
I have NP on my scalp and neck. Moisturize often. Deseparate not to scratch.. I shall try some of the suggestions on this excellent blog post.
Thanks Robert. Hoping you can find some relief for the dreaded NP