PERSONS COMMONLY AFFECTED

• Older adults, especially women
• People with dry skin, eczema, and other itchy skin conditions
• People who suffer from stress or anxiety

FEATURES

• Itching of skin that may be recurrent, intense, and associated with stress (For example, scratching of the neck especially during exams)
• Affected area appears as a raised, rough, thick, leathery, dark, scaly skin with prominent skin lines that may look like the bark of a tree
• May have scratch marks and raw areas from repeated scratching

REASONS FOR DEVELOPMENT

• Caused by a cycle of repeated itching and scratching or rubbing

OTHER FACTORS

• May be associated with nervousness or stress
• May start due to the presence of conditions that cause itchiness of the skin (allergies, atopic dermatitis, insect bites)

TREATMENT

• Most important step is to stop scratching the skin
• Moisturizers to decrease dryness
• Medicated creams, lotions or ointments to calm redness and itching, and to decrease the thickness of the skin lesions. These may include steroids and salicylic acid.
• Steroid medicine may also be injected into very thick skin lesions
• Oral medicines to decrease itch and stress, such as antihistamines and sedatives
• You may receive a referral for stress or behavioural management to address underlying cause of the problem

PREVENTION

• Avoid repeated scratching or touching the affected skin
• Avoid harsh bath products to prevent itching
• Keep the skin moisturized

WHY DO I NEED TO SEE A BOARD-CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST?

• Lichen simplex chronicus may cause embarrassment, stress and anxiety, and disruption of your daily activities. A board-certified dermatologist can give the correct diagnosis and treatment to control the condition and prevent complications such as bacterial and fungal infections and permanent scars