The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Vaseline
Posted by Lindab (Vancouver Bc Canada) on 11/01/2014
★★★★★
I've had Pruigo Nodularis for over 3 years now on my cheek, started after a bout with shingles followed by 3 years of extreme stress.......I just came back from a dermatologist who told me to keep Vaseline on it...I've been doing that for 10 days now, I put a bandaid over the Vaseline at night & during the day if I'm not going out anywhere. End result is that it's looking much better! .....Don't know if anyone has been able to get any of the nodules out but I have and thought they were tiny cysts.....I have a family history of asthma and hay fever, but don't have that myself....I also have hypothroidism.......I'm hoping that the Vaseline treatment will help in the long run. Before I saw the Dr I had started putting on Nivea Q10 nightcream which also helped....seems these things need a good heavy duty moisturizer which seems to keep the itch away.
Anti-Viral Medications
Posted by Valencia (Atlanta, GA) on 10/24/2014
Thank you so much for posting. I have been using a topical steroid for my Pruigo Nodularis and have developed severe skin damage -- yet another skin issue! I will talk to my doctor about Valtrex immediately. I have been taking Prednisone on and off for the last year and that provides temporary relief. As soon as I come off , I start the burning and itching again. I am also taking 150 mg of Imuran since the middle of August. I don't see any difference.
Anti-Viral Medications
Posted by Ng (California, US) on 10/19/2014
So apparently I went to 2 doctors that thought the bump on my elbow was psoriasis. Well it wasn't! It was prurigo nodularis. Steroids creams were ineffective after use for about 3-4 years. Finally went to a good doctor and he used a injection at the site for itch (good for about the month). Within a week...the bump became smooth/flat and it's starting to get better! Wish I knew earlier. I've also been using palmers cocoa butter...which offered amazing itch relief (even better than steroid creams! )..and I felt like it stays in the skin longer.
Anti-Viral Medications
Posted by Anelissa (Brisbane, Australia) on 09/19/2014
★★★★★
Hi, I have completed 2 packs x 30 tablets,
2 x 500mg per day, and after 1 month of use, my NP has reduced by at least 60percent on upper body, and by 70percent on scalp. Continuing the script for another 14 days. Looking very promising. Cheers, Anelissa
Anti-Viral Medications
Posted by Samantha (Houston) on 09/03/2014
Good afternoon Anelissa, I was just wondering if you were able to meet with your doctor and have started on the Valtrex RX? Can you provide any feedback from your experience?
Anti-Viral Medications
Posted by Anelissa (Brisbane, AU) on 08/10/2014
The home remedies you list for Nodular Prurigo are pretty useless. In fact, sunlight made my rash worse. Doxycycline dispelled the erythema, but didn't overcome the NP.
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)
Anti-Viral Medications
Posted by Anelissa (Australia) on 08/10/2014
I just want to kiss you Barb G of Naples.
I have made an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to receive a script for Valtrex. Let you know how it goes.
Anti-Viral Medications
Posted by Anelissa (Australia) on 08/10/2014
Thank you for recommending valtrex. I will ask my doctor to prescribe that for me, as I have been thinking it is virus related. Eliminated bacterial cause by using three different antibiotics. Virus makes total sense to me.
Anti-Viral Medications
Posted by Barb G (Naples, Fl) on 06/17/2014
★★★★★
My PN started with 31 squamous cell cancers over a period of 3 years. Got rid of those with surgeries, radiation and scrape and burn. It stopped for a year after I took Soriatane for 4 months...had to stop that med because my hair started falling out. But no more cancers for a year. The next 7 biopsies came back as PN. I tried a lot of remedies I found in this forum. Got depressed and went to a psychiatrist who gave me amytriptoline and klonopin for the itching and depression. The next visit he said he researched PN and prescribed Valtrex as most of the PN was on major nerve lines and thought this might be a virus related to shingles. First 1000mg then 2000mgs per day the next month. Eureka! No new PNs and all the rest of the 39 I had are shrinking, drying out and turn white and peel off. Most are gone but the larger ones are white and peeling off.
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.
Castor Oil, Essential Oils
Posted by Sharcai (Columbus, Oh) on 12/10/2013
★★★★★
Pruigo Nodularis: A dear friend of mine has been plagued with itchy nodules for about a year and a half. The patch was about 3-4 inches wide and about 10 inches long. She'd tried several prescripton creams (steroids) and nothing helped for long. I looked at botanicals that helped others on EarthClinic and other websites and asked her if I could concoct a salve for her arm. She said she had nothing to lose! I used 3 Tbl. Castor oil as my base and added 5 drops each of three essential oils: Tea Tree, Oregano, and Lavender. I painted the lower half of her arm (that was our test area) and covered it with gauze. She left this on for about 4 hours. She said there was a noticable difference in that short amount of time--less inflamation, less itch. She continued to treat that area at least every other day. It's been about a month now and her lower arm is almost completely healed. Her upper arm, which was the worse patch of the two, and which she started to treat a little later, is considerably better. She said she doesn't have the insane itching any more. I hope this helps others who have this horrible skin condition.
Salt Baths, Sunlight
Posted by Mm (Virginia Beach, Va) on 05/30/2013
I seem to have this skin condition. I have hyperthyroidism. I went through a very stressful situation when I started getting the itch. It started on my arm. Initially the itch looks like a bug bite. It was very itchy. The more I scratch, the itchier it gets until it turned to be an open wound. Then I started noticing that the top portion of the itchy wound is filled with fluid. The itching didn't stop. I was placed on Prednisone for 10 days and the itching ceased but then I started to develop itch on my legs and lower back. I need the itch to go away. Dr don't seem to know what it is.
Salt Baths, Sunlight
Posted by Cathydinmo (Blue Springs, Mo, USA) on 04/11/2013
I've had Prurigo Nodularis 27 years now. I had read something interesting. Have or do any of you had throat or tonsil conditions?
Salt Baths, Sunlight
Posted by Louise (New York) on 03/21/2013
★★★★☆
Remedy for Prurigo Nodularis:
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.
