Treatment Side Effects
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widespread nature and importance of the problem and the fascination
that comes along with understanding itch. That is changing rapidly.
Patients who experience itch will begin scratching the area that’s
itching, which sends a signal to the brain and back to the skin to initiate
an itching frenzy. It can be helpful to apply an ice pack, bag of frozen
vegetables, or crushed ice in a Ziploc® bag covered in paper towel and
apply it to the itchy area for as long as 10 minutes. This will “put out the
fire” so to speak. Think of itching in this disease like a wildfire – if we
can eliminate the instance of itch, we can prevent it from spreading all
over the skin.
For most patients with cutaneous lymphoma, itching can range from
a minor irritation to a tormenting sensation that can significantly
decrease a patient’s quality of life. Cutaneous lymphoma-related itching
is particularly troubling since it can start small and take over the body.
In a study conducted by the late Dr. Marie-France Demierre of the
Boston University School of Medicine, 88% of cutaneous lymphoma
patients ranked itch among the top causes of distress associated with
this disease.
Pruritus is a physiological condition at its root, and appropriate
treatment is more likely to be prescribed if the degree of suffering is
explained in detail to your physician. When meeting with your doctor,
try to describe the severity of itchiness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being
little to no itch and 10 being unbearable and preventing smooth daily
functioning.
Although a definitive cause for itch has yet to be determined,
some treatments are available. A common first-line treatment is
antihistamines. Some options include Allegra® and Claritin® for
daytime use or Benadryl® and Atarax®, which are more commonly
used at night because they have sedative properties. Some of these
medications can be obtained over-the-counter while others require a
prescription. These medications block redness, swelling, and itch. For
most sufferers, itching becomes noticeably greater just prior to falling
asleep, so sedative antihistamines can be particularly effective.
There are easy home remedies to alleviate itch, too. Soak for 15 minutes
in an oatmeal bath. Apply a cold compress to a particularly itchy area to
calm irritation and reduce the urge to itch. Apply open-wet dressings
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