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Papers of the Week
Scratching increases epidermal neuronal branching and alters psychophysical testing responses in atopic dermatitis and brachioradial pruritus.
Authors
Renkhold L, Wiegmann H, Pfleiderer B, Süer A, Zeidler C, Pereira MP, Schmelz M, Ständer S, Agelopoulos KAbstract
Chronic scratching imposes a major stress on the skin and can lead to itch intensity worsening, and consequently, patients may enter an itch-scratch cycle. This repetitive mechanical stress can result in lichenification, worsening of epidermal barrier function, and enhanced cutaneous inflammation. Furthermore, a reduction of intraepidermal nerve fibers was previously described in lichenification.