The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of lichen simplex: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has recently emerged as a possible effective treatment for pruritic dermatoses. Lichen simplex (LS) is one such condition, which may persist despite intensive topical treatments.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of TENS treatment in relieving pruritus in lichen simplex.

METHODS: In total, 22 patients with LS unresponsive to topical corticosteroids underwent TENS treatment. The patients rated the pruritus intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS).

RESULTS: The mean reduction in VAS score from baseline to the end of 4 weeks treatment was 4.50 (95% CI 3.65-5.34) for all patients. The difference between the baseline and at the end of the study was significant (P < 0.01). By the end of the study, 18 (80%) of the subjects experienced a reduction in pruritus intensity of > 50%.

CONCLUSION: From our clinical observation, we suggest that TENS may prove to be a useful and well-tolerated treatment modality for the treatment of pruritus in patients with LS.