Itch is a major symptom of allergic skin disease. Acupuncture has shown a significant effect on histamine-induced itch in healthy volunteers. We investigated the effect of acupuncture on type 1 hypersensitivity itch and skin reaction in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
An allergen stimulus (house dust mite or grass pollen skin prick) was applied to patients with atopic eczema before (direct effect) and after (preventive effect) two experimental approaches or control observation. Itch intensity was recorded on a visual analogue scale. After 10 minutes, wheal and flare size and skin perfusion were measured at the stimulus site, and the validated Eppendorf Itch Questionnaire (EIQ) was answered.
Acupuncture at the correct points showed a significant reduction in type 1 hypersensitivity itch in patients with atopic eczema. With time the preventive point-specific effect diminished with regard to subjective itch sensation, whereas it increased in suppressing skin-prick reactions.
The sensation of itch—defined as an unpleasant sensation that provokes the desire to scratch— is the most prevalent subjective symptom of inflammatory skin diseases. It plays a clinical key role in atopic eczema and leads to a serious impairment of quality of life of affected patients.
In atopic eczema, itch can be triggered by various allergens including house dust mite and grass pollen. Acupuncture has shown to have antipruritic effects in experimental itch in healthy volunteers showing a significant effect before and after application of histamine as itch stimulus.
In atopic eczema, however, histamine is not the main itch mediator. Furthermore, it is unknown whether acupuncture has an effect on experimental itch in patients with atopic eczema.
A study was conducted by the Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universit at Munchen in Germany to evaluate the possible preventive and therapeutic effect of acupuncture on type 1 hypersensitivity itch sensation as well as wheal and flare formation. 30 patients with atopic eczema were included in the study.
The study showed a significant reduction in type 1 hypersensitivity itch sensation after acupuncture treatment compared to placebo-point treatment and no treatment in patients with atopic eczema. The results suggest that acupuncture might be useful against itch, urticarial or eczema in atopic patients. In addition, allergen prick can be considered as a model for itch in atopic eczema.
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