Abstract
Although chronic pruritus is very common in the general population (lifetime prevalence of around 23 %), knowledge about sex- and gender-specific differences is still limited. Available studies show that females and males differ in their pruritus perception – females experience itch more intensely. Therefore, females not only demonstrate more severe psychological impairment but also present a different behavior – females scratch more. But also the qualities of itch differ. Females suffer more from a burning itch that suggests a stronger neuropathic component and they experience higher itch intensity on their lower extremities. Moreover, females can be distracted more easily from their itch on their legs; males on their upper extremities. Females and males demonstrate different brain activation patterns during itch stimulation. Thus, sex- and gender-specific effects on the central perception and modulation of itch needs to be taken into account for a better understanding of chronic pruritus.
Keywords
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Stumpf, A., Pfleiderer, B. (2016). Sex- and Gender-Specific Differences in Chronic Pruritus. In: Misery, L., Ständer, S. (eds) Pruritus. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33142-3_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33142-3_16
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