• Disease Overview
  • Synonyms
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Affected Populations
  • Disorders with Similar Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Standard Therapies
  • Clinical Trials and Studies
  • References
  • Programs & Resources
  • Complete Report
Select language / seleccionar idioma:

Prurigo Nodularis

Print

Last updated: 2/13/2023
Years published: 2021


Acknowledgment

NORD gratefully acknowledges Michael Girardi, MD, Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, for assistance in the preparation of this report.


Disease Overview

Summary

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease where an extremely itchy, symmetrically distributed rash appears most commonly on the arms, legs, the upper back and/or the abdomen. The itch associated with PN is so severe that it often interferes with sleep and psychological wellbeing. PN can appear on its own or be associated with other skin diseases or underlying medical conditions that affect multiple body systems, such as cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease or AIDS. The exact cause of PN is unknown, but altered function of the immune system and nerves in the skin is believed to be associated with heightened sensations of itchiness (pruritus) that leads to frequent scratching. Frequent scratching and picking of the skin is also thought to contribute to further lesion thickening and formation seen in the disease. PN can occur at any age but is more common in the elderly. When PN occurs in younger patients, it is more likely to be associated with inflammatory skin diseases, usually eczema (also called atopic dermatitis). Diagnosis is usually made by a dermatologist based on clinical symptoms and response to medications, but microscopic examination of a skin biopsy can aid in confirming the diagnosis. Although no FDA-approved treatments for PN currently exist, treatments used for other skin disorders ranging from topical creams to medications that alter the immune response are sometimes prescribed for patients with PN.

  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Synonyms

  • prurigo nodularis of Hyde
  • nodular prurigo
  • Picker's nodules
  • atypical nodular form of neurodermatitis circumscripta
  • lichen corneus obtusus
  • PN
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Signs & Symptoms

The rash associated with prurigo nodularis varies in appearance from patient to patient and is thought to occur from excessive, chronic scratching and picking due to sensations of intense itchiness (pruritus), burning and stinging. Pruritus associated with PN is usually severe; occurs in episodes but can be continuous; and is chronic, lasting longer than 6 weeks. It is typically worsened by sweat, heat, clothing, and stress.

The rash can range in severity from just a few to several hundred lesions and lesions can range in size from a half centimeter to 2 centimeters wide. Lesions are usually symmetrical in distribution and can appear as firm, dome-shaped papules, nodules or plaques. Papules, nodules and plaques vary by width and depth in the skin layers. A papule is less than 1 cm in diameter and elevated above the skin surface; nodules are greater than 1 cm in diameter, extend into the dermis (skin layer beneath the top layer of the skin, the epidermis) and can be above, below, or level with the skin surface; plaques are elevated lesions greater than 1 cm in diameter and are broader than they are deep.

Skin areas affected by PN become thickened (hyperkeratotic) as the protein keratin that makes up skin becomes overly abundant, similar to what happens with the formation of corns and calluses and dry and leathery (lichenified) as is seen in other skin conditions such as eczema where skin is repeatedly scratched. Lesions can be flesh-colored, pink, red, brown or black. Complications can occur if lesions become infected by bacteria. Healed lesions may leave scars and discolored marks.

Lesions are most commonly found on the back of the scalp, trunk of the body (abdomen and upper and lower back) and on the arms and legs. The central back is usually lesion-free, presumably because this area cannot be easily scratched to contribute to lesion formation.

Symptoms of PN require medical treatment and lesions rarely disappear spontaneously without treatment.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Causes

Although the exact cause of prurigo nodularis is not known, symptoms are thought to stem from dysregulation of the nerves and immune system in the skin.

Skin layers from top to bottom include the epidermis and dermis and both contain nerve fibers. Microscopic examination of skin biopsies in areas with and without lesions in PN patients has revealed a reduced number of nerve fibers in the epidermis but an increased number in the dermis. However, it is unknown if these changes in nerve fiber density are a cause or an effect of chronic scratching of the skin. With successful treatment of pruritus, skin nerve fiber density returns to normal. Another important finding in PN skin that distinguishes it from similar appearing skin diseases is an increase in structures important for skin sensation: Merkel cells, a special type of nerve cell, in the epidermis and papillary dermal nerves in the dermis.

Compared to healthy patients, the skin of PN patients also has more immune cells that produce chemicals called cytokines that are involved in inflammatory responses that may contribute to increased itchiness. These cytokines include interleukin-4, -13 and -31 and are targeted by some medications currently used and being developed to treat PN. Increased release of substance P; vanilloid receptor subtype 1; and calcitonin-related gene peptide, proteins from skin nerves, is also believed to contribute to the pruritus of PN. Other alterations to the skin environment include an increased number of neutrophils and mast cells that release histamine and increased activity from eosinophils. The latter two types of immune cells are best known for their involvement in allergic reactions and eczema.

Prurigo nodularis can occur on its own or can be associated with other skin diseases (dermatoses) or with infections, systemic diseases, neurological conditions or psychiatric conditions. The severity and outcome of PN are not predicted by the underlying cause.

PN is most often found in patients with other skin diseases that are typically pruritic, including atopic dermatitis (eczema), cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, lichen planus, xerosis cutis, keratoacanthomas and bullous pemphigoid.

Infections associated with PN include bacterial infections with tuberculosis, mucogenicum and H. pylori; viral infection with herpes zoster and hepatitis C; and parasitic infections with ascaris and strongyloidiasis.

Systemic diseases that PN can be associated with include: HIV; kidney disease; liver disease; thyroid disease; hyperparathyroidism; hyperpituitarism; diabetes; gout; iron deficiency anemia; celiac disease; polycythemia vera; amyloidosis; and certain cancers, especially blood precancers (myelodysplasia, MGUS) and blood cancers (leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, primary cutaneous lymphoma), liver cancer, skin cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer and cancers of the GI tract and female reproductive organs. Proper treatment of systemic and infectious causes may cure PN in some but not all cases.

Neurological causes of PN are related to damage to the brain and spinal cord (less typically) or to the area of the nervous system throughout the rest of the body outside of the brain and spinal cord (more typically). Neurological conditions associated with PN include nerve damage from herpes or shingles infections, polyneuropathies, brachioradial pruritus, notalgia paresthetica, small fiber neuropathies, sensitive skin and post-burn itch.

Psychiatric causes of PN include psychogenic pruritus. Psychogenic pruritus is an itching sensation associated with depression, anxiety, and dissociative disorders that lead to excessive scratching that can then lead to the skin changes associated with PN.

Some medications may also cause PN. These include the chemotherapy agents pembrolizumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin. PN in these cases is thought to be from prolonged activation of the immune system post-treatment.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Affected populations

The number of new cases of PN per year (incidence) in the US is estimated to be 72 per 100,000 people, or 87,634 people a year in people aged 18 to 64 years old. PN is more common in the elderly, and in women (54.2%) compared to men (45.5%), with women experiencing more severe pruritus. While PN can occur at any age, it is more likely to occur between ages 40 to 69 years old. Younger patients with PN are more likely to have other skin disorders associated with allergic states, such as eczema. PN is 3.4 times more common in African Americans. It is more prevalent among patients with HIV infection.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Diagnosis

For the best accuracy in diagnosis and to distinguish rashes of PN from similar skin disorders, clinical examination of signs and symptoms by a dermatologist combined with microscopic examination of lesions is recommended. Microscopic examinations include dermoscopy and biopsy, and these two methods combined together provide the best likelihood of an accurate diagnosis. With dermoscopy, dermatologists use a magnifying scope that shines light onto the skin to examine its structure through a portion of the dermis. It is a relatively new exam that was originally used to distinguish between different skin cancers but is now used to diagnose other skin disorders, including inflammatory and infectious ones. It is non-invasive and therefore not painful or likely to cause infection. Biopsy, on the other hand, is simple procedure where portions of the skin are removed with a blade to allow dermatologists to see the skin in greater detail under a microscope.

Before microscopic examination, clinical clues alone that lead dermatologists to suspect PN include the distribution of the lesions on specific areas of the trunk and limbs; the physical characteristics of the rash, including darkened color, firmness, and itchiness; and the presence of other diseases that co-occur with PN in some cases.

Biopsy of PN lesions reveals thickening of different areas of the outermost layer of the skin (the epidermis) with distinct changes to the skin protein keratin (e.g. hyperkeratosis). The layer below the epidermis, the dermis, shows an increase in several inflammatory white blood cell types, including lymphocytes, mast cells, neutrophils and macrophages. A decreased number of nerve fibers in the epidermis and an increased number in the dermis are also characteristic findings. Appropriate treatment often causes nerve fiber density in both layers to return to normal.

Once PN diagnosis is confirmed from clinical and microscopy exams, blood tests including a complete blood cell count (CBC), a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) that included liver and kidney function tests, and thyroid hormone panel may be beneficial for diagnosing systemic diseases that may be contributing to the PN diagnosis, especially in patients who have PN without the more commonly associated skin conditions that can co-occur with it. Stool exams for the presence of parasites and HIV testing may also be beneficial when infectious causes of PN are suspected.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Standard Therapies

Standard treatments for PN are both behavioral and medical. No FDA-approved treatment currently exists for PN, but many medications used to treat other skin disorders or immune dysfunction are used to treat PN.

Behavioral treatments for PN include ways to prevent scratching and dryness, such as keeping fingernails short, wearing long sleeves and gloves, bandaging lesions, cleaning skin with gentle cleansers, keeping skin moisturized with non-irritating lotions and avoiding warm environments to reduce sweating. Recommended anti-itch lotions include calamine, menthol and camphor lotions.

Topical medications and medications injected directly into lesions (intralesional therapies) are also used for PN. Topical medications include corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, capsaicin (the spicy ingredient in chili peppers) and vitamin D. Intralesional therapies include injected corticosteroids, such as injection with triamcinolone acetonide. The first types of treatment usually prescribed are antihistamines, topical corticosteroids and bandaging of lesions at night to prevent scratching.

In 2022, dupilumab (Dupixent) was FDA approved to treat adults with prurigo nodularis. 

If first-line treatments are not successful, treatments including cryotherapy, phototherapy, and medications that suppress the immune system (immunosuppressants) are used to control symptoms. Cryotherapy is considered an alternative treatment. It involves applying freezing or near-freezing temperatures to the skin to improve the appearance of lesions and relieve itching. Phototherapy uses UVA and/or UVB light to heal lesions faster and reduce pruritus and is suspected to work by decreasing levels of calcitonin-gene related peptide, substance P and histamine released by inflammatory cells. Immunosuppressants are reserved for the most resistant cases of PN because they affect more body systems and can have more serious side effects. Specific immunosuppressants prescribed for PN are cyclosporine, methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and tacrolimus. Intravenous immunoglobulin, while not an immunosuppressant but a treatment for immune-mediated diseases, has also been used in PN. It involves using antibodies from donors to modulate abnormal immune responses. General adverse effects of immunosuppressants include interference with kidney function (nephrotoxicity), liver inflammation, high blood pressure, high potassium levels (hyperkalemia), high uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) and GI symptoms.

Other treatments include antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); gabapentin, an antiseizure drug that also treats nerve pain; and sedatives, especially if sleeping difficulty from night-time itch occurs. These medications along with psychotherapy and relaxation therapy can help combat the psychological effects of PN as well.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Clinical Trials and Studies

Newer treatments tried in PN patients include thalidomide, lenalidomide, opioid receptor antagonists, neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists and monoclonal antibody therapy.

Thalidomide depresses the nervous system by inhibiting inflammatory cells known as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) to treat the itch and inflammation seen in PN. It can cause fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, blood clots and birth defects if taken by pregnant women. Lenalidomide, another form of thalidomide, is less toxic to the nervous system.

Opioid receptor antagonists are medications that bind to opioid receptors on nerve cells that transmit pain signals and are effective at relieving itching. Examples include the medications naloxone and naltrexone.

Aprepitant and serlopitant, a class of drugs known as neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists are also useful in PN patients. They inhibit substance P activity to reduce symptoms. Adverse effects include GI and neurological symptoms in the first 2 weeks of use, and they are contraindicated in patients with liver disease.

Monoclonal antibodies are novel PN treatments with fewer side effects than typical immunosuppressant drugs. They work by targeting specific cells in the immune system to inhibit the underlying pathology that causes disease symptoms. The monoclonal antibody nemolizumab targets the receptor for the cytokine interleukin-31 (IL-31), a suspected contributor to itch in PN patients and the monoclonal antibody dupilumab targets IL-4 and 13. Dupilumab is FDA-approved to treat eczema, asthma and chronic inflammation of the nasal passages and sinuses (chronic rhinosinusitis). Both medications are given as injections and have been helpful in clearing lesions in PN patients who have not responded to other treatments.

The monoclonal antibody vixarelimab targets the receptor for cytokines IL-31 and oncostatin M (OSM) and is currently being studied in a clinical trial as a treatment for PN.

Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ All studies receiving U.S. Government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.

For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:

Tollfree: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov

Some current clinical trials also are posted on the following page on the NORD website:
https://rarediseases.org/living-with-a-rare-disease/find-clinical-trials/

For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, contact:
https://www.centerwatch.com/

For information about clinical trials conducted in Europe, contact:
https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

References

JOURNAL ARTICLES
Wieser J, Mercurio M, Somers K. Resolution of treatment-refractory prurigo nodularis with dupilumab: a case series. Cureus. 2020 Jun;12(6):e8737. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7377018/

Mullins T, Sharma P, Riley C, Sonthalia S. Prurigo nodularis. StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Sep 15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459204/

Pile H and Crane J. Actinic prurigo. StatPearls Publishing. 2020 April 15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499957/

Hughes J, Woo T, Belzberg M, et al. Association between prurigo nodularis and etiologies of peripheral neuropathy: suggesting a role for neural dysregulation in pathogenesis. Medicines (Basel). 2020 Jan 8;7(1):4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7167799/

Kowalski E, Kneiber D, Valdebran M, et al. Treatment resistant prurigo nodularis: challenges and solutions. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:163-172. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6400231/

Kwon C, Khanna R, Williams K, Kwatra M, Kwatra S. Diagnostic workup and evaluation of patients with prurigo nodularis. Medicines (Basel). 2019 Dec:6(4):97. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6963711/

Whang K, Khanna R, Kwatra S. Racial and gender differences in the presentation of pruritus. Medicines (Basel). 2019 Dec;6(4):98. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6963580/

Larson V, Tang O, Stander S, et al. Association between prurigo nodularis and malignancy in middle-aged adults. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Nov;81(5):1198-1201. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7377235/

Rambhia P and Levitt J. Recalcitrant prurigo nodularis treated successfully with dupilumab. JAAD Case Rep. 2019 May;5(5):471-473. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6510953/

Nair P and Patel T. Dermatoscopic features of prurigo nodularis. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019 Mar-Apr;10(2):187-189. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6434741/

Pereira MP, Basta S, Moore J, et al. Prurigo nodularis: a physician survey to evaluate current perception of its classification, clinical experience and unmet need. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Dec;32(12):2224-2229. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6585684/

Boozalis E, Tang O, Patel S, et al. Ethnic differences and comorbidities of 909 prurigo nodular patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Oct:79(4):714-719. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6518410/

Zeidler C, Yosipovitch G, Stander S. Prurigo nodularis and its management. Dermatol Clin. 2018 Jul;36(3):189-197. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29929592/

Kelly-Sell M and Gudjonsson J. Overview of psoriasis. Therapy for Severe Psoriasis. 2016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/psoriasis-vulgaris

Reddy D and Reddy P. Nodular scabies: a classical case report in an adolescent boy. J Parasit Dis. 2015 Sep;39(3):581-583. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554579/

Linton C. Essential morphologic terms and definitions. Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association. 2011 March; 3(2): 102-103. https://journals.lww.com/jdnaonline/fulltext/2011/03000/Essential_Morphologic_Terms_and_Definitions.10.aspx#:~:text=NODULE%20%2D%20A%20palpable%2C%20solid%20lesion,than%2020%20mm%20in%20diameter.

Lezcano L, Ortiz B, Masi M, et al. Prurigo nodularis. Arch. Argent. pediatrician. 2008 Oct;106(5):446-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19030646/

Waldinger TP, Wong RC, Taylor WB, et al. Cryotherapy improves prurigo nodularis. 1984 Dec;120(12):1598-600. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6508332/

INTERNET
Watsky K. Prurigo Nodularis. UpToDate. Last updated: Mar 24, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/prurigo-nodularis Accessed April 19, 2021.

Prurigo Nodularis. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. Last updated: 4/19/2018. Available at: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/7480/prurigo-nodularis. Accessed April 19, 2021.

About: Prurigo Nodularis. DBpedia. Available at: https://dbpedia.org/page/Prurigo_nodularis Accessed April 19, 2021.

Howard P. August’s Topic of the Month – Coping with Itchy Rashes. Lupus UK. August 31, 2016. Available at: https://www.lupusuk.org.uk/coping-with-itchy-rashes/ Accessed April 19, 2021.

Ngan V. Amyloidosis. DermNet NZ. 2003. Available at: https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/amyloidosis/. Accessed April 19, 2021.

Atopic Dermatitis. National Eczema Association. Available at: https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/types-of-eczema/atopic-dermatitis/. Accessed April 19, 2021.

Excoriation Disorder (Skin Picking or Dermatillomania). Mental Health America. Available at: https://www.mhanational.org/conditions/excoriation-disorder-skin-picking-or-dermatillomania#:~:text=Excoriation%20disorder%20(also%20referred%20to,significant%20disruption%20in%20one%27s%20life. Accessed April 19, 2021.

Muir-Torre Syndrome. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Available at: https://www.aocd.org/page/MuirTorreSyndrome. Accessed April 19, 2021.

Social Networking Websites:
Nodular Prurigo International
Nodular Prurigo Awareness

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Programs & Resources

RareCare® Assistance Programs

NORD strives to open new assistance programs as funding allows. If we don’t have a program for you now, please continue to check back with us.

Additional Assistance Programs

MedicAlert Assistance Program

NORD and MedicAlert Foundation have teamed up on a new program to provide protection to rare disease patients in emergency situations.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/medicalert-assistance-program/

Rare Disease Educational Support Program

Ensuring that patients and caregivers are armed with the tools they need to live their best lives while managing their rare condition is a vital part of NORD’s mission.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/rare-disease-educational-support/

Rare Caregiver Respite Program

This first-of-its-kind assistance program is designed for caregivers of a child or adult diagnosed with a rare disorder.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/caregiver-respite/

Patient Organizations

No patient organizations found related to this disease state.


National Organization for Rare Disorders