Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWho Is AffectedDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Who Is Affected
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Brachioradialpruritusis a nerve disorder that causes itching on the skin on the outer side of your forearm. This part of your arm covers thebrachioradialis muscle, which works with other muscles to help you flex your elbow.Sometimes the itch can also extend into the upper arm, shoulder, neck and trunk.
While it’s not usually a serious health problem, a flare-up of brachioradialis pruritis symptoms can be uncomfortable and hard to treat—partly because experts are not completely sure why it happens.
This article goes over the possible causes of brachioradialis pruritis, what the symptoms are, how it is diagnosed, and how it can be treated.
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Why Can’t I Stop Itching?
Brachioradial Pruritus Symptoms
Itching is the classic symptom of brachioradial pruritis. It specifically affects the outer side of the forearm or, sometimes, both forearms. Though rare, the intense itchiness may also be felt elsewhere on the body, like the neck or back.
If you scratch the itchy part of your arm, you may not actually get any relief. In fact, the area may feel even itchier. The scratching that causes more itching is called the itch-scratch cycle.
In some cases, the itching from brachioradialis pruritus can be very distracting and uncomfortable—especially when you are trying to sleep.
Pain may come along with the itching because the same nerves send itching andpain signalsto the brain.
Other symptoms of brachioradial pruritus include:
While you might expect to see changes on your skin where it itches, brachioradial pruritis does not causea rash. However, if you scratch often enough, you may see scratch lines and thickened skin develop where you have previously scratched.
Skin Conditions That Look Like Psoriasis But Aren’t
Causes of Brachioradial Pruritus
However, nerve damage andsun exposureare the two main causes that have been considered. It’s possible that both are involved.
Brachioradial pruitus is not contagious.
Nerve Damage
One example isspinalstenosis. This condition is caused when the center of your spine narrows and presses down on the spinal cord and nerves.
Another example iscervical spondylosis. With this condition, the nerves that exit the spinal cord at the neck are compressed and damaged.
The nerve damage from these conditions may lead to symptoms of brachioradial pruritus.
Cervical Spondylosis: A Pain in the Neck
Sun Exposure
It’s also been considered that sunlight might play a role in brachioradial pruritus. Chronic exposure toultraviolet(UV) radiation can damage the nerve fibers in the skin.
Once they’re damaged, the nerves can be more sensitive to the pain and itching from brachioradial pruritus. It’s thought that this could be what actually triggers the symptoms in people with cervical spine disease.
The Effects of Sun on the Skin
Who Gets Brachioradial Pruritus?
Brachioradial pruritus happens twice as often to women as it does to men.While it can start at any age, it’s more common in middle age.
Since brachioradial pruritus is often associated with sun exposure, people living in warmer climates might be more at risk for it. That’s also why people whose lifestyles include lots of outdoor activities, like gardening or swimming, might be more likely to get it.
Why Do My Legs Itch?
Diagnosing Brachioradial Pruritus
Your provider will need to first rule out other possible causes of your itching. For example, if you have a rash and itching, it would be very unlikely that you have brachioradial pruritis. Unfortunately, it’s harder to diagnose itchy skin when there is no rash.
A diagnosis of brachioradial pruritus might be considered if anti-itch medications have not helped with your symptoms.
A provider can use several diagnostic tools to determine if you have brachioradial pruritus, including:
Should You See a Dermatologist for Itchy Skin?
Brachioradial Pruritus Treatment
A flare-up of brachioradial pruritus can be hard to treat successfully.Oral antihistamineslike Zyrtec (cetirizine), hydrocortisone, and othercorticosteroidsthat are applied to the skin often do nothing or very little to ease discomfort.
Heat also does not help brachioradial pruritus symptoms. People who have tried a heating pad or a soak in a hot bath often find that the heat just makes the itching worse.
Quite a few other treatments have been tried for brachioradial pruritus. Still, the success rate remains mixed.These include:
Some other drugs may help relieve the symptoms of brachioradial pruritis, such as:
How to Deal With Constant Itching
Summary
Treatment can be difficult, but some people have found success with creams applied to the skin or alternative therapies,
What Causes Itchy Feet?
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe itching from brachioradial pruritus can disrupt your sleep. Using ice packs at night can help relieve the symptoms.Try applying ice packs to help relieve the symptoms. If ice works for you, another strategy might be using acooling cream with mentholto ease the itching.There are many conditions that can make your forearms itch, likedry skin,bug bites,folliculitis,atopic dermatitis, andpsoriasis. If you have itching that does not go away or is getting worse, talk to your healthcare provider.
The itching from brachioradial pruritus can disrupt your sleep. Using ice packs at night can help relieve the symptoms.
Try applying ice packs to help relieve the symptoms. If ice works for you, another strategy might be using acooling cream with mentholto ease the itching.
There are many conditions that can make your forearms itch, likedry skin,bug bites,folliculitis,atopic dermatitis, andpsoriasis. If you have itching that does not go away or is getting worse, talk to your healthcare provider.
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8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Osteopathic College of Dermatoloy.Brachioradial Pruritis.Australasian College of Dermatologists.Brachioradial Pruritus.Carvalho S, Sanches M, Alves R, Selores M.Brachioradial pruritus in a patient with cervical disc herniation and Parsonage-Turner syndrome.An Bras Dermatol. 2015; 90(3):401-2. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153059Lavery MJ, Kinney MO, Mochizuki H, Craig J, Yosipovitch G.Pruritus: an overview. What drives people to scratch an itch?Ulster Med J. 2016;85(3):164–173.Lipman ZM, Magnolo N, Golpanian RS, et al.Comparison of itch characteristics and sleep in patients with brachioradial pruritus and notalgia paresthetica: A retrospective analysis from 2 itch centers.JAAD International. 2021;2:96-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2020.12.001Bernhard JD, Bordeaux JS.Medical pearl: the ice-pack sign in brachioradial pruritus.J Am Acad Dermatol.2005;52(6):1073. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.02.056Wachholz PA, Masuda PY, Pinto ACVD, Martelli ACC.Impact of drug therapy on brachioradial pruritus.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):281–282. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175321Cleveland Clinic.Brachioradial pruritus.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Osteopathic College of Dermatoloy.Brachioradial Pruritis.Australasian College of Dermatologists.Brachioradial Pruritus.Carvalho S, Sanches M, Alves R, Selores M.Brachioradial pruritus in a patient with cervical disc herniation and Parsonage-Turner syndrome.An Bras Dermatol. 2015; 90(3):401-2. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153059Lavery MJ, Kinney MO, Mochizuki H, Craig J, Yosipovitch G.Pruritus: an overview. What drives people to scratch an itch?Ulster Med J. 2016;85(3):164–173.Lipman ZM, Magnolo N, Golpanian RS, et al.Comparison of itch characteristics and sleep in patients with brachioradial pruritus and notalgia paresthetica: A retrospective analysis from 2 itch centers.JAAD International. 2021;2:96-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2020.12.001Bernhard JD, Bordeaux JS.Medical pearl: the ice-pack sign in brachioradial pruritus.J Am Acad Dermatol.2005;52(6):1073. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.02.056Wachholz PA, Masuda PY, Pinto ACVD, Martelli ACC.Impact of drug therapy on brachioradial pruritus.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):281–282. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175321Cleveland Clinic.Brachioradial pruritus.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatoloy.Brachioradial Pruritis.Australasian College of Dermatologists.Brachioradial Pruritus.Carvalho S, Sanches M, Alves R, Selores M.Brachioradial pruritus in a patient with cervical disc herniation and Parsonage-Turner syndrome.An Bras Dermatol. 2015; 90(3):401-2. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153059Lavery MJ, Kinney MO, Mochizuki H, Craig J, Yosipovitch G.Pruritus: an overview. What drives people to scratch an itch?Ulster Med J. 2016;85(3):164–173.Lipman ZM, Magnolo N, Golpanian RS, et al.Comparison of itch characteristics and sleep in patients with brachioradial pruritus and notalgia paresthetica: A retrospective analysis from 2 itch centers.JAAD International. 2021;2:96-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2020.12.001Bernhard JD, Bordeaux JS.Medical pearl: the ice-pack sign in brachioradial pruritus.J Am Acad Dermatol.2005;52(6):1073. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.02.056Wachholz PA, Masuda PY, Pinto ACVD, Martelli ACC.Impact of drug therapy on brachioradial pruritus.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):281–282. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175321Cleveland Clinic.Brachioradial pruritus.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatoloy.Brachioradial Pruritis.
Australasian College of Dermatologists.Brachioradial Pruritus.
Carvalho S, Sanches M, Alves R, Selores M.Brachioradial pruritus in a patient with cervical disc herniation and Parsonage-Turner syndrome.An Bras Dermatol. 2015; 90(3):401-2. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153059
Lavery MJ, Kinney MO, Mochizuki H, Craig J, Yosipovitch G.Pruritus: an overview. What drives people to scratch an itch?Ulster Med J. 2016;85(3):164–173.
Lipman ZM, Magnolo N, Golpanian RS, et al.Comparison of itch characteristics and sleep in patients with brachioradial pruritus and notalgia paresthetica: A retrospective analysis from 2 itch centers.JAAD International. 2021;2:96-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2020.12.001
Bernhard JD, Bordeaux JS.Medical pearl: the ice-pack sign in brachioradial pruritus.J Am Acad Dermatol.2005;52(6):1073. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2005.02.056
Wachholz PA, Masuda PY, Pinto ACVD, Martelli ACC.Impact of drug therapy on brachioradial pruritus.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):281–282. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175321
Cleveland Clinic.Brachioradial pruritus.
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