![]() Topical capsaicin may be applied daily to deplete the nerve endings of substance P, a neurotransmitter chemical, that causes itch or pain. Physical therapy, massage, chiropractic manipulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and acupuncture have been reported helpful. Treating the overlying skin irritation due to scratching may improve the secondary effects, but this does not address the itching from the underlying neurologic disorder. Notalgia paresthetica is not a primary skin disorder, it is a neurologic one. In one study, more than half of patients had x-ray changes in their spine suggesting disc disease in the cervical spine, where impingement of the nerves at the C4-C6 levels may play a role. Osteoarthritis and degenerative cervicothoracic disc disease or direct nerve impingement may play a role. The cause of notalgia paresthetica is unknown. A localized patch of thickened, hyperpigmented skin is seen just below the shoulder blade on one side of the back in the photo on the right. ![]() Your dermatologists at SkinCare Physicians see signs of NP, though, because of the secondary changes in the skin related to chronic scratching and rubbing the area. Notalgia paresthetica does not in and of itself show up on the skin. The itching is often described as being “under the skin”, which is, in fact, a very apt description because the source is actually an underlying neurologic phenomenon. Some patients also report localized burning, pain, prickling, or numbness in the area. The itching waxes and wanes, usually without any clear precipitant. NP is very common and produces paroxysmal itching on a well-defined patch of skin on the back. This is called notalgia paresthetica (NP), and it is actually a form of a sensory neuropathy. Some patients develop a curious itchy patch that develops on one side of the back, just under the shoulder blade, in an area that is maddeningly out of reach. Your dermatologist may prescribe a topical steroid to treat this condition, along with the usual recommendations of irritant avoidance and moisturizing. If these tips do not work, irritant contact dermatitis may have developed: in this situation, the skin has gone beyond simply being dry and has become inflamed. Towel off and apply your moisturizer immediately. Even sweat can be a powerful irritant! Avoiding irritants in this situation can be helpful: keep showers short, rinse the back thoroughly after shampooing, and shower quickly after a workout so that the sweat does not remain in contact with your skin for a long duration. Common irritants include soaps, cleansers and shampoos that come in contact with the back. Sometimes, if the dry skin is allowed to persist for a long time, the skin loses its normal barrier function and becomes irritated by things we face in everyday life. Excellent moisturizers include: CeraVe Cream or Cetaphil Pro. Enlisting some help at home to reach your back with moisturizer is a good option, but lacking that, a simple kitchen utensil can be helpful! A common rubber spatula can be used to extend your reach, allowing you to apply moisturizing lotion daily after bathing in order to seal in the moisture. Applying lotion to your back can be difficult, especially if you lack shoulder flexibility. ![]() Humidifiers in the home can be helpful for improving the skin’s hydration, but the most effective treatment is applying a moisturizer daily. The amount of lipids (oils) in our skin diminishes as we age, so we tend to get itchier as we get older. The most common cause of itching on the back is simple dry skin, which is why the condition is always worse in the wintertime, when the humidity plummets and skin is overall much dryer. Here is what you need to know about these forms of itching, and how to treat them. The source may not just be simple dry skin, but irritant contact dermatitis or even a sensory neuropathy. Of course, it is always best to treat the source of itching, in order to avoid scratching. Itching on the back can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you can’t reach the area to give it a good scratch! It always seems that the back is itchiest where it is just out of reach. Published on Apr 1st, 2021 by Robin Travers
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