Natural Remedies for Prurigo Nodularis: Soothing Itchy Skin Naturally

I decided enough and rang my family who live in Pakistan.. My late grandfather was a well established herbalist (Ayurvedic). I cried and told them my situation and asked if they knew any cure .. They told me that they remember my uncle had it years ago and my grandfather treated him .

I was told to stop all chemically stuff and start on herbal treatment as this will cure it from the roots and will never return.. I was willing to try anything. I was asked to source an Ayurvedic named Gandhak (detoxified sulphur). I suggest you do your own research. It took me days to find a herbalist here in UK who sold it...and he confirmed my aunt's suggestion for treating this skin disease..apparently when I researched it further I discovered this is what homoeopaths give to their patients for skin conditions too but very low doses. So patients keep going back for ages. I've seen it in a well known British store in the homeopathic section.

I managed to get 250 grammes powder from UK. My aunt told me to take one level teaspoon in morning and one at night on an empty stomach with a cup of whole warm milk that should have a teaspoon of clarified butter mixed into it.. So I put the gandhak in my mouth it feels very dry as its powder and then I quickly drink milk over it (very important to take the milk mixture with it).. I was skeptical ..

I'm on day five and what a difference, everything is starting to dry up.. The itching is still there but I was told it would take while to go down and be patient.. I have never seen it healing so quickly in the 3 years. I'm amazed. So take it for 7 days then miss 4 days then 7 days miss 4 days keep repeating this pattern until it dies down.. Shouldn't need to take it more than 6 to 8 weeks.

I was also told to take a teaspoon of evening primrose oil in morning and teaspoon of blackseed oil at night as this moisturises your body from the inside.. So does the milk and butter mixture.

It's early stages but I can miraculously see it working.. My aunt said do not have a soak in the bath as this keeps the wounds seeping, instead have a bucket bath or shower Twice a day. Final rinse should be to put 2 caps dettol into a bucket and pour on yourself (this might not work for all its to help to reduce itching). If you've got it on your scalp then pour the dettol mixture from head to toe.

Come out of shower/bath then put evening primrose oil mixed with wheat germ oil and massage it in ... I'm so relieved and shocked at the difference its made...aunt told me to remember ayurvedic medicines take longer to work but get the disease from the roots unlike steroid creams tablets which are temporary and poison our bodies.. I've also been told to purify my blood from all the toxins I. Have taken in using medicines over these three years

.. It's called neem(from a neem tree)

I got neem powder boiled 50grammes in 300 grammes of water until it halved in consistency. Sieve this and take two tablespoon in morning and two at night with loads of water as it is the most bitterest thing I have ever tasted .. It takes some getting used to..but it purifies your blood is anti fungal, antibacterial etc ..so is the gandhak I hate taking this the neem its so bitter. But I'm going to persevere..

You are welcome to contact me through this post if I can help anyone I will and am willing to update my progress...

Please do your own research on gandhak and neem and take it at your own decision..

I felt I had to post this because of the suffering I've gone through over these three years and could see no end to it.. And hopefully it might help others.

Also lather yourself with mixture of equal amounts of mustard oil evening primrose oil , wheat germ oil and raw organic coconut oil.all over ..massage it well into the skin to keep it moist and to help with itching

Rukhsana

After 24 hrs, the difference is amazing. This solution is used for burns and all skin problems. I posted this immediately, as I don't want anyone else to suffer with this, like I have.

Good luck.

I truly think this is viral. That's probably why tea tree oil helped some people.

As background...I also had MRSA from one of the squamous surgeries...and pseudemonas Aer...something after a MOHs surgery with a skin graft. One Doc gave me doxycycline IVs and I think Vancomycin for one of the infections. I noted several people online had MRSA and had one or two of these drugs. Maybe they set you up for PN...?

Another thing that helped was a chemo liquid for skin cancer called 5 FU...it only kills abnormal skin cells and helped stop the itching of PN and dried out the sores.

I recently had a painful reaction to the 5 FU on a fast growing bump. I had it biopsied and it was squamous cell cancer. This happened before I took the anti viral meds. A new dermatologist is going to try acutane next month for the prevention of any new cancers. I hope this helps someone.

Complete remission going on 2 months. Did 2 rounds of capsaicin 0.05% (mixed 0.075 & 0.025) once or twice a day. First round (2 weeks of use) got 3 weeks remission then relapse. Used another 2 weeks then remission going on 2 months now. I had a severe case lasting a year and a half until I finally got a biopsy. Found capsaicin idea online (German study). Careful, don't get in eyes!!

You don't say how bad your mom's PN is, but the following abstract suggest that Capsaicin (the heat in chili peppers) can clear some cases. Having used capsaicin previously, I can tell you that you have to be very careful when using it that you wash your hands well after applying it to problem areas. I made the mistake of rubbing my eye because of a slight itch and it burned for quite awhile afterwards! In the study abstract, they used capsaicin that was .025 to .3%. Here in the states we have one commonly available strength level of capsaicin cream, .1%. Higher percentages are available by prescription.

https://www.amazon.com/Zostrix-Strength-Arthritis-Analgesic-Capsaicin/dp/B000F5IEK8?th=1

This is stronger than the lowest dose that was used in the study, but lower than the highest dose. It may be possible to dilute this product further by adding it to a basic cream if you want to get to the lowest dose used in the study. A pharmacist can help you find a basic cream as well as the capsaicin cream as well as mixing directions to dilute it down to the lowest study percentage (.025%) or you can look for this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Rugby-Capsaicin-0-025-Compare-Zostrix/dp/B0036ITNKQ

The higher the strength of the dose, the greater the chance to feel the burn of the capsaicin!

Art

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001 Mar;44(3):471-8.

Treatment of prurigo nodularis with topical capsaicin.

Ständer S¹, Luger T, Metze D.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prurigo nodularis is an eruption of lichenified or excoriated nodules caused by intractable pruritus that is difficult to treat. Therefore the antipruritic efficacy of capsaicin seemed to be of particular interest because this alkaloid, extractable from red pepper, interferes with the perception of pruritus and pain by depletion of neuropeptides in small sensory cutaneous nerves.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this concentration- and regimen-ranging study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and practicability of capsaicin in the topical treatment of prurigo nodularis in a large series of patients.

METHODS:

A total of 33 patients with prurigo nodularis of various origins were selected to receive capsaicin (0.025% to 0.3%) 4 to 6 times daily for 2 weeks up to 10 months. The consecutive follow-up period was up to 6 months. In 7 patients, skin biopsy specimens were taken before, during, and after therapy and investigated histologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally.

RESULTS:

All 33 patients could be evaluated for efficacy. After cessation of the symptoms of neurogenic inflammation, such as burning sensations or erythema, all of them experienced a complete elimination of pruritus within 12 days. In addition, capsaicin largely contributed to the gradual healing of the skin lesions. After discontinuation of the therapy, pruritus returned in 16 of 33 patients within 2 months. At the ultrastructural level, no degenerative changes of cutaneous nerves could be found during or after capsaicin therapy. Depletion of substance P was demonstrated by confocal laser scanning microscopy thus confirming the specific effect of capsaicin in vivo.

CONCLUSION:

Topical treatment of prurigo nodularis with capsaicin proved to be an effective and safe regimen resulting in clearing of the skin lesions.

PMID:

11209117

DOI:

10.1067/mjd.2001.110059

[Indexed for MEDLINE]

Posted by Linda (Texas) on 07/02/2017

Trading ideas with other victims of prurigo... Sorry...no cure..... I have been suffering for nearly three years.. I have gone from a cheerful, busy commercial photographer to a mostly in 'my p.j.s depressed lady in her 70s.... I have worked with my primary care doctor, my dermatologist and my allergist trying to find some relief... and for me, I have accomplished a little but, want to share it... I take 2 Benadryl every morning, and more every six hours if I need them.. I find if I can just not begin to touch my skin as soon as I wake up, it is helpful... and the Benadryl does stop my itching. We tried 24 hr. anti- histamines for the itching, but,,,,,, about 7-10 hours later you begin to itch and you still have a lot of medication in your body so I take 2 Tylenol or 2 Bayer aspirins to stop the inflammation and the pain' I also have Tramadol with Tylenol if I need it for pain... so far I have not had to use it.

I live in S. Texas and I am exposed to the sun all the time.. I find it very irritating to my skin... not as a' feel better' idea. I also had my allergist with blood work, not skin patches, test for some allergies I may have in food and environment that could be irritating my prurigo infected skin and she found, citrus, ( which I was eating all the time), and tomatoes, as well as well as outside mold came up positive.. I am seeing her tomorrow because I have kept a journal of what I had eaten before a new outbreak... This is the best thing I have done... I have lowered the debilitating itching and pain somewhat.

I told my dermatologist that I knew this was not as interesting as treating and curing cancer or some other dread disease, but, that I did think it was treated just as skin sores...... I went on to explain to him, the depression, the shame ( yes, seeing yourself covered in sores has some sort of shame connected to it,,, at least by me... like a leper! ) it, the inability, especially for women to get dressed in regular clothes, bras, spanx, slacks, sweaters, etc is just short of torture... I did read that when one scratches their sores, it stimulates the nerves, as if they are being exererized and actually cause more pain in that area as time goes on.. I do have a great tube of medicine to put on the lesions.. it must have a wax base because it stays on and also cuts off air and prevents itching,,, it is fluocinide .05..... You may have some luck with it.. and lastly if I have an open lesions, I put an otc antibiotic ointment on them and they seem to heal more quickly.

I don't think any of you will disagree with me that your friends and family, just don't '''get ''' how a few sores can be so bad..... They have not lain in bed all night trying to find a distraction to keep from just crying out from pain. Do any of you ever feel like you have ants biting your sun broiled skin? I do.. I have never written about anything like this,,, and I don't pretend to know if any of these ideas help you.... and oh,,, be very careful with your soaps, gel, and shower supplies,,,,,,, use a s little as possible...and try to skip a shower once in awhile....and for goodness sake don't dry,,, just wrap a Egyptian cotton towel around you and '' air dry as you slather Cerave on your damaged skin.

Would love to have suggestions.. never heard of this stuff til I got it...."

Below is a link to an old and obscure abstract suggesting that capsiacin cream may have profound effects on people living with prurigo nodularis (PN). In the study it was found that all patients with PN who used topical capsaicin cream were able to eliminate pruritus within 12 days! From that point, gradual healing started. In the study, they used capsaicin cream that was 0.025% to 0.3%. By comparison, this cream is .01%:

This one is .1% :

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Zostrix-Hp-High-Potency-Topical-Analgesic-Cream-Arthritis-Pain-Relief-2-oz/10794756

Not to minimalize the effects of this cream, but I have tried it before and it felt like it was burning. You must be very careful when handling it also as you never want to have any on your hands and then rub an itchy eye!!! It's hot stuff to be sure, but if it can do what the abstract suggests, it may be worth the effort if you can handle the heat of it. Capsaicin is known to help ameliorate pruritis (itching), but sometimes I wonder if it is able to do that simply because it is so hot itself that the burning sensation just over powers the itchy sensation??

Here is the abstract:

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001 Mar;44(3):471-8.

Treatment of prurigo nodularis with topical capsaicin.

Ständer S¹, Luger T, Metze D.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prurigo nodularis is an eruption of lichenified or excoriated nodules caused by intractable pruritus that is difficult to treat. Therefore the antipruritic efficacy of capsaicin seemed to be of particular interest because this alkaloid, extractable from red pepper, interferes with the perception of pruritus and pain by depletion of neuropeptides in small sensory cutaneous nerves.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this concentration- and regimen-ranging study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and practicability of capsaicin in the topical treatment of prurigo nodularis in a large series of patients.

METHODS:

A total of 33 patients with prurigo nodularis of various origins were selected to receive capsaicin (0.025% to 0.3%) 4 to 6 times daily for 2 weeks up to 10 months. The consecutive follow-up period was up to 6 months. In 7 patients, skin biopsy specimens were taken before, during, and after therapy and investigated histologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally.

RESULTS:

All 33 patients could be evaluated for efficacy. After cessation of the symptoms of neurogenic inflammation, such as burning sensations or erythema, all of them experienced a complete elimination of pruritus within 12 days. In addition, capsaicin largely contributed to the gradual healing of the skin lesions. After discontinuation of the therapy, pruritus returned in 16 of 33 patients within 2 months. At the ultrastructural level, no degenerative changes of cutaneous nerves could be found during or after capsaicin therapy. Depletion of substance P was demonstrated by confocal laser scanning microscopy thus confirming the specific effect of capsaicin in vivo.

CONCLUSION:

Topical treatment of prurigo nodularis with capsaicin proved to be an effective and safe regimen resulting in clearing of the skin lesions.

PMID:

11209117

[Indexed for MEDLINE]

Please keep us posted on your progress!

Art

Art

Yes, valtrex is an antiviral drug.

If you are dealing with a chronic virus, you might consider extra virgin coconut oil. We have had amazing results using it for viruses. It sounds so simple but it sure does help.

I use 1 tablespoon three times a day for viruses. I once took it for a year for my low thyroid and it actually appeared to heal a different autoimmune disease I had. But if you are petite or prone to digestive problems, you could try 1 or 1 1/2 teaspoons three time a day.

I put it in my oatmeal for breakfast. I mix it into cooked vegetables. I mix it with blackstrap molasses and peanut butter to make a fudge.

You could try epsom salt baths or a magnesium supplement to help with stress.

There is a lot of information on this site. I encourage you to keep reading and be encouraged. I think that you can be helped with your condition!

~Mama to Many~

1 )clearing spots using Hydrogen peroxide 9% 30 vol. I use a earbud dipped in peroxide and dab each spot, this usually foams up and cleans out the spot ( the spot foams less as the spot heals ) . This can also help stop the itch. When doing this please cover your fingers with latex gloves etc as the bleach whitens the fingers, but this is painless and not long lasting

2) after cleaning out spots take coconut oil, take about a teaspoonful onto your hands, rub together to melt and proceed to massage onto where spots are. You can also use grape seed oil with camomile or lavender oil.

3) I found that I can use Apple Cider Vinegar on my scalp or skin if the itch is really bad.

4 ) it is really important to keep the skin supple and besides if you have plenty of oil or emollient so that if you do scratch it does less damage.

If by any chance I find something else I will get in touch.

There is one other thing I have done to keep myself calm and less anxious is I take some Kalms which is also natural.

You can make it with 4 cups of water, 2 teaspoons of Baking soda and 1/4 cup of "regular" original bleach.

I use a water bottle to spray my legs and itching ceases immediately, the dark hype-rpigemented skin halo is returning to normal skin each week of use and the lesions are shrinking and drying up. Its incredible and highly suggest this as I literally tried everything from iodine, turmeric, 35%h202, glycolic acid, coconut oil, vicks, licorice extract, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and much more.

I am glad for your webpage, because I was running out of ideas and one of your posters has led me to try Valtrex anti-viral medication, so I'm feeling very excited about this. My condition was misdiagnosed by at least 5 doctors and two specialist since January 2012, only 1 GP was adamant about NP. Finally a third biopsy in March 2014 came back with NP as per Pathology Lab result. Consider if this is a virus, how it may be transmitted via blood transfusion - I'm no expert in immunology, so it's more of a query than a caution. Number of cases of NP are springing up all around me. Just saying, if a virus, then we should be so lucky as to know of one anti viral med that was a success in the cure for NP. Regards Anelissa (pseudonym)

I posted an abstract of a study on the subject of PN last year that showed very good results in the patients involved with that study. Hear is a copy of that post. Also below that post is a reply post from someone who read that post and also got good results this year! If you try it, I hope you have just as good results! I can see how you may have missed my original post, because some how my post has been somewhat displaced and the reply post actually appears well before my post. Hopefully EC can move those two posts around so that they actually make sense in relation to each other and for people such as yourself who are trying to find a remedy that works!

Art

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In reply to Linda (Texas),

Below is a link to an old and obscure abstract suggesting that capsiacin cream may have profound effects on people living with prurigo nodularis (PN). In the study it was found that all patients with PN who used topical capsaicin cream were able to eliminate pruritus within 12 days! From that point, gradual healing started. In the study, they used capsaicin cream that was 0.025% to 0.3%. By comparison, this cream is .01%:

This one is .1% :

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Zostrix-Hp-High-Potency-Topical-Analgesic-Cream-Arthritis-Pain-Relief-2-oz/10794756

Not to minimalize the effects of this cream, but I have tried it before and it felt like it was burning. You must be very careful when handling it also as you never want to have any on your hands and then rub an itchy eye!!! It's hot stuff to be sure, but if it can do what the abstract suggests, it may be worth the effort if you can handle the heat of it. Capsaicin is known to help ameliorate pruritis (itching), but sometimes I wonder if it is able to do that simply because it is so hot itself that the burning sensation just over powers the itchy sensation??

Here is the abstract:

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001 Mar;44(3):471-8.

Treatment of prurigo nodularis with topical capsaicin.

Ständer S¹, Luger T, Metze D.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prurigo nodularis is an eruption of lichenified or excoriated nodules caused by intractable pruritus that is difficult to treat. Therefore the antipruritic efficacy of capsaicin seemed to be of particular interest because this alkaloid, extractable from red pepper, interferes with the perception of pruritus and pain by depletion of neuropeptides in small sensory cutaneous nerves.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this concentration- and regimen-ranging study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and practicability of capsaicin in the topical treatment of prurigo nodularis in a large series of patients.

METHODS:

A total of 33 patients with prurigo nodularis of various origins were selected to receive capsaicin (0.025% to 0.3%) 4 to 6 times daily for 2 weeks up to 10 months. The consecutive follow-up period was up to 6 months. In 7 patients, skin biopsy specimens were taken before, during, and after therapy and investigated histologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally.

RESULTS:

All 33 patients could be evaluated for efficacy. After cessation of the symptoms of neurogenic inflammation, such as burning sensations or erythema, all of them experienced a complete elimination of pruritus within 12 days. In addition, capsaicin largely contributed to the gradual healing of the skin lesions. After discontinuation of the therapy, pruritus returned in 16 of 33 patients within 2 months. At the ultrastructural level, no degenerative changes of cutaneous nerves could be found during or after capsaicin therapy. Depletion of substance P was demonstrated by confocal laser scanning microscopy thus confirming the specific effect of capsaicin in vivo.

CONCLUSION:

Topical treatment of prurigo nodularis with capsaicin proved to be an effective and safe regimen resulting in clearing of the skin lesions.

PMID:

11209117

[Indexed for MEDLINE]

Please keep us posted on your progress!

Art

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Capsaicin Cream

Posted by Marilynn (St Louis Mo) on 01/18/2018

I took advice found on this website after suffering w Prurigo nodularis for a year and half. Caipasin cream has worked wonders for my skin. This skin issue is like chicken pox but lesions are much larger.

I have had this skin disease for years. The only thing that has worked for me is a combination of salt baths and sunlight. During the winter months, when I can't get to the beach, I put sea salt in my bath and soak in it. It clears up infected sores and dries them out and they form a crust which can be pumiced off with an emery board of callus pumice. It also helps to decrease the itching and therefore the scratching as well. When the weather gets warmer, I lie in the sun. Sun exposure is the best treatment. I have gone from approximately 200 sores on my arms and legs to about a dozen.

I am careful to write "inhibits" rather than kills, because my current experiment is just four to five days old, and can be considered as an effective treatment, not an actual cure until such time as when I might report that all of my lesions have gone and no further lesions form in the next three months. A friend gave me a bottle of vodka brandy after I told him I might try drinking a few Brandy Alexanders to see if any change occurs with my skin lesions. I barely drank any cos I am not really a drinker. So the bottle sat around for past four months. until four days ago when I decided to dab some on to my scalp where I had been plagued with recurring plaques for the third time inside two years. This last phase beginning last christmas til now.

To cut a long story short, I am overjoyed to be able to tell you that my scalp feels totally rejuvenated. there is still one tender spot to touch, but in the space of less than four days, all plaques are gone from my scalp and now I am dabbing the alcohol on the several spots on face plus a couple on left shoulder. After two days these areas already look so much better. also I bathe mob once a day. Use aveeno. One does still need to pick clean the area, but it works easier after annihilating the virus.

I have made an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to receive a script for Valtrex. Let you know how it goes.

Elderberry and Olive Leaf are two great herbal antivirals. If you want to try an antiviral, one of them may be useful.

You might also consider Essiac Tea which helps a lot of chronic conditions.

~Mama to Many~

I am a 71 yo Caucasian naturalist and ecologist in good health and about 10 pounds overweight with past history of MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, which is now under control.

Six years ago, a nodule started on my left forearm and became aggravating to the point that I went to a dermatologist who took a biopsy.

The diagnosis was Prurigo and no effective treatment was offered.

A week later the nodule began to reappear so I read all that I could find about Prurigo in the web and began to experiment.

Considering that Prurigo resembles warts, I softened the nodule with warm soapy water then shaved off the hard scab to reveal the live tissue and coated it with liquid wart remover that has the glass applicator.

I repeated the application for 2 days then shaved the area on the third day again and repeated the applications as before and again on the tenth day.

In 10 days the nodule was gone, the skin returned to normal and the nodule did not return.

But more nodules showed up on my left cheek and on each side of the nape of my neck. I repeated the process with those nodules and they too disappeared. I

learned from a trial that applying the wart remover without shaving off the hard callus first is ineffective.

Today there is a nodule 2 inches above my navel that will get the same treatment and I will report on the results.

A relevant note is that I have used Mediterranean Oreganum vulgare since 2000 in its various forms as fresh plant, whole leaf extract capsules with oil and oregano oil in dropper bottle. I have not had any other illnesses besides Prurigo and the nodules have shown up during periods that I have not used oregano oil for a several weeks. So I will henceforth continue a weekly maintenance with the oregano.

Anyone else have a biopsy or freezing of skin cancer spot before your onset of PN?