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Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a skin disease that causes hard, itchy lumps (nodules) to form on the skin.[522] The itching (pruritus) can be intense, causing people to scratch themselves to the point of bleeding or pain. Scratching can cause more skin lesions to appear.[10311][14028] The itching is worsened by heat, sweating, or irritation from clothing.[11669] In some cases, people with PN have a history of other diseases including eczema (atopic dermatitis), lymphoma, HIV infection, severe anemia, or kidney disease.[522]
The exact cause of PN is unknown. Although scratching is known to cause more nodules to appear, it is unclear what causes the itching to develop in the first place.[10311][14028] Diagnosis of the disease is based on observing signs such as extremely itchy skin with the formation of nodules. In some cases, a skin biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis.[14028][11669] Treatment may include corticosteroid creams, oral medications, cryotherapy, or photochemotherapy.[522][11669][14029]
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