Topical capsaicin for the treatment of itch and pain in dermatological patients

Background and Objectives. Treatment of pruritus as observed in many dermat ological and internal diseases may be very often disappointing. There are m any reports describing the topical use of capsaicin,the pungent agent in re d pepper. Long term administration of capsaicin depletes neuropeptides in u nmyelinated, polymodal C-type and small myelinated A delta-type cutaneous n erves that conduct pruritus and pain. Patients/Methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safet y and practicability of capsaicin in the treatment of pruritus and pain of different origin in a total of 40 patients. Results. Capsaicin suppressed completely itch in all patients. Conclusions. in addition to its excellent antipruritic and analgetic effect , capsaicin significantly contributed to healing of some dermatoses, such a s prurigo nodularis and psoriasis.