Acupuncture has been found to be more effective than the oral antihistamine cetirizine at reducing experimentally induced itch in atopic dermatitis (AD) subjects. A team from Germany and the USA evaluated allergen-induced itch in 20 AD patients under a range of conditions in a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Verum acupuncture, applied concurrently with allergen-skin contact, resulted in a significantly lower mean itch intensity (MIE), compared with all other interventions (31.9). When applied preventatively (preceding allergen contact with the skin), verum acupuncture and cetirizine resulted in equivalent MIE (37.6 for verum acupuncture, vs 36.8 for cetirizine). Both were significantly superior to their respective placebo interventions (39.9 for placebo acupuncture and 39.8 for placebo cetirizine) and a no-intervention control (45.7). In addition, flare size (area of skin redness) following preventative verum acupuncture was significantly smaller than that following placebo acupuncture. (Acupuncture compared with oral antihistamine for type I hypersensitivity itch and skin response in adults with atopic dermatitis – a patient- and examiner-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Allergy. 2012 Apr;67(4):566-73).
Categories: Skin / dermatology
