Chronic itch

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Possible causes

There are of course, many possible causes of chronic itch, among which many physical causes and a number of medicines. Your physician can guide you well in a thorough research of this. Both local and generalized itch can, however also have a mainly mental cause or perpetuating factor. It is very important to remain open for this.

A game of attention

Mentally seen, itch is mainly a game of attention. Behind the itch lies something that is asking for your attention. That can be attention in order to reach knowledge or to do something. ‘My hands are itching’, you say then, ‘to start with it’. But the more superficial attention (attention purely to the symptom itself) that you give to the itch, the worse it becomes and/or the longer it lasts. The itch asks for a deeper attention. With superficial attention, you reinforce the request. With deep attention, you give an appropriate answer. Deep attention is attention to the symptom as a symbol for the underlying cause.

Avoiding attention as treatment

The less superficial attention you give, the more rapidly the itch passes. By rubbing or scratching, the itch is only perpetuated. An ointment with a cooling effect mainly works in the same manner. It lures the attention away from the itch itself. In addition to this, you scratch less in order not to remove the ointment. Two ways, therefore to reduce superficial attention. A non-cortisone ointment probably even helps only by means of these mechanisms and therefore not directly. Anyway, another effect has not yet been proven.

AURELIS for deep attention

With AURELIS, you have an aid to realize the deep attention that the symptom (and your deeper self) asks for. In a totally non-aggressive way, you get a communication with your deeper self. The chronic itch is then no longer nourished from within, but only by a superficial vicious circle of scratching - itch - scratching. With a diminishment of superficial attention, you then easily come out of the circle.

Autosuggestion sessions

A coolness that dissipates the itch
You feel a coolness coming over your skin. This can happen in several ways, even at the same time and your itch quickly diminishes.
Play Session
Think back of a cooling ointment
Perhaps you have already used a cooling ointment (or powder) to reduce your itch. You can now recall this and let its effect - even at a deeper level - come over you.
Play Session
An invisible blanket comes over you, that removes the itch
You imagine an invisible blanket cover you everywhere, touching your skin. This blanket removes the itch. It can more or less stick to your skin so its effect is permanent.
Play Session
The desire to scratch, simply disappears
You have an itch and desire to scratch. You let this desire simply be itself. This is possible because in this deep relaxation you have the strength to simply observe your desire, without it controlling you.
Play Session
Attention to yourself leads away attention to the itch
With this exercise, you can exchange your itch for knowledge about the exact cause of this itch. This 'knowledge' is more a feeling than rational knowledge. You then give attention to this new knowledge and as a result, you lead away your attention from the itch.
Play Session

Scientific References

Stress and the skin. by Reich A, Wsjcik-Maciejewicz A, Slominski AT. Journal: G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Apr;145(2):213-9.
Neuropathic and psychogenic itch. by Yosipovitch G, Samuel LS. Journal: Dermatol Ther. 2008 Jan-Feb;21(1):32-41.
Functional itch disorder or psychogenic pruritus: suggested diagnosis criteria from the French psychodermatology group. by Misery L, Alexandre S, Dutray S, Chastaing M, Consoli SG, Audra H, Bauer D, Bertolus S, Callot V, Cardinaud F, Corrin E, Feton-Danou N, Malet R, Touboul S, Consoli SM. Journal: Acta Derm Venereol. 2007;87(4):341-4.
Psyche, opioids, and itch: therapeutic consequences. by Krishnan A, Koo J. Journal: Dermatol Ther. 2005 Jul-Aug;18(4):314-22.
Itch: scratching more than the surface. by Twycross R, Greaves MW, Handwerker H, Jones EA, Libretto SE, Szepietowski JC, Zylicz Z. Journal: QJM. 2003 Jan;96(1):7-26.
Psychogenic excoriation. Clinical features, proposed diagnostic criteria, epidemiology and approaches to treatment. by Arnold LM, Auchenbach MB, McElroy SL. Journal: CNS Drugs. 2001;15(5):351-9.
Psychological assessment of patients with idiopathic pruritus ani. by Laurent A, Boucharlat J, Bosson JL, Derry A, Imbert R. Journal: Psychother Psychosom. 1997;66(3):163-6.
Evaluation and treatment of "psychogenic" pruritus and self-excoriation. by Fried RG. Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 Jun;30(6):993-9.
Relationship between anger and pruritus perception in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and psoriasis. by Conrad R, Geiser F, Haidl G, Hutmacher M, Liedtke R, Wermter F. Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2008 Sep;22(9):1062-9. Epub 2008 Mar 18.
Psychosomatic cofactors and psychiatric comorbidity in patients with chronic itch. by Schneider G, Driesch G, Heuft G, Evers S, Luger TA, Stdnder S. Journal: Clin Exp Dermatol. 2006 Nov;31(6):762-7.
Psychological predictors of pruritus during mental stress. by Fjellner B, Arnetz BB. Journal: Acta Derm Venereol. 1985;65(6):504-8.
Biopsychosocial mechanisms of chronic itch in patients with skin diseases: a review. by Verhoeven EW, de Klerk S, Kraaimaat FW, van de Kerkhof PC, de Jong EM, Evers AW. Journal: Acta Derm Venereol. 2008;88(3):211-8.
From the brain-skin connection: the neuroendocrine-immune misalliance of stress and itch. by Arck P, Paus R. Journal: Neuroimmunomodulation. 2006;13(5-6):347-56. Epub 2007 Aug 6.
"Scratching" beneath the surface: An integrative psychosocial approach to pediatric pruritus and pain. by Stein TR, Sonty N, Saroyan J. Journal: Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2011 Jun 13. [Epub ahead of print]
Itch in the community: associations with psychosocial factors among adults. by Dalgard F, Lien L, Dalen I. Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007 Oct;21(9):1215-9.
Itch and mental distress: a cross-sectional study among late adolescents. by Halvorsen JA, Dalgard F, Thoresen M, Thoresen M, Bjertness E, Lien L. Journal: Acta Derm Venereol. 2009;89(1):39-44.
Prevalence and predictors of psychosocial morbidity in patients with chronic pruritic skin diseases. by van Os-Medendorp H, Eland-de Kok PC, Grypdonck M, Bruijnzeel-Koomen CA, Ros WJ. Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2006 Aug;20(7):810-7.
Development of a psychological treatment service for pruritic skin conditions.. by Long D, Long RA, Grillo MP, Marshman G Journal: Australas J Dermatol. 2006 Nov;47(4):237-41.
The efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of pruritus in people with HIV/AIDS: a time-series analysis. by Rucklidge JJ, Saunders D. Journal: Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2002 Apr;50(2):149-69.

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