Effect of topical capsaicin on the cutaneous reactions and itching to histamine in atopic eczema compared to healthy skin |
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Authors: | Elke Weisshaar Gisela Heyer Clemens Forster Hermann O Handwerker |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Dermatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, DE;(2) Institute of Physiology and Experimental Pathophysiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, DE;(3) Department of Dermatology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany e-mail: Elke.Weisshaar@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de Tel. +49-391-6715425 or 6715267; Fax +49-391-6715283, DE |
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Abstract: | Abstract Capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is thought to produce analgesic and possibly also antipruritic effects when applied topically. Capsaicin
0.05% was applied three times daily over a 5-day period to the same infrascapular region. The effects of the pretreatment
upon the pruritogenic and wheal and flare reactions to subsequent histamine iontophoresis (20 mC) were evaluated on the following
day. The antipruritic effects of the pretreatment were compared with the effects of placebo pretreatment and no pretreatment.
Wheal and flare areas were evaluated planimetrically. Itch or pain were rated every minute over a 24-min period. The areas
of alloknesis, i.e. the induction of perifocal itch sensation by usually nonitching (e.g. mechanical) stimuli, were also evaluated.
In control subjects, but not in atopic eczema (AE) patients, capsaicin pretreatment significantly reduced the flare area.
Compared with control subjects, AE patients showed a lack of alloknesis or significantly smaller areas of alloknesis in pretreated
and nonpretreated skin. In control subjects, capsaicin pretreatment significantly reduced itch sensations compared with nonpretreated
skin, whereas in AE patients no differences were seen. Itch sensations in capsaicin-pretreated skin were significantly lower
in control subjects than in AE patients. We conclude that capsaicin does effectively suppress histamine-induced itching in
healthy skin but has less effect in AE. The diminished itch sensations and the absence of alloknesis in atopic individuals
indicate that histamine is not the key factor in itching in AE.
Received: 24 July 1997 |
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Keywords: | Pruritus Allokinesis Atopic eczema Capsaicin Antipruritic local therapy Histamine |
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