New York Times Interview with Dr. Gil Yosipovitch

The New York Times has an interview with Dr. Gil Yosipovitch, a dermatologist at Wake Forest University who studies itch.

He is very understanding of the chronic itch associated with eczema, which is comforting for anyone who suffers from pruritus (techincal word for intense itching). Interestingly, he notes that the number one cause of itching is eczema. But he says that only 10% of eczema patients have severe itch. This may explain why I've seen several dermatologists who are very dismissive of the persistant itch and how disruptive to you life it can be. It is nice to see someone who understands how terrible it is!

He discusses how scratching can make the itch worse, leading to terrible itch-scratch cycle:
"So, now we can understand that brain-wise, it could feel like scratching helps for a couple of hours. But in chronic eczema the more you scratch, the more you damage the upper layers of the skin barrier, the protective layer. And the more you damage it, the nerve fibers are — I would call them wacky, they are not functioning as they are supposed to. They become overactivated, so that scratching actually intensifies the perception of itch, causing more itch. So that can explain why we have that itch-scratch cycle."

On treatments, he notes that the use of steriods can be essential for eczema patients and that anti-histimines at night can have a sedating effect to help patients sleep. He mentions new reasearch they may lead to anti-itch medications but they appear many years off still -- sadly for those of us suffering now.