Scalp Dysesthesia: A Study on Chronic Pain and Itchiness

    March 1998 in “ Archives of Dermatology ”
    Diane M. Hoss, Samantha Segal
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    TLDR Antidepressants may improve or resolve scalp dysesthesia in most patients.
    In the 1998 study on scalp dysesthesia, Diane Hoss, MD, and Samantha Segal, MD, investigated 11 women aged 36 to 70 years who suffered from chronic pain and/or itchiness of the scalp without any visible physical symptoms. The duration of their symptoms ranged from 9 months to 7 years. Five of the women had diagnosed psychiatric disorders, and stress appeared to trigger or worsen the condition in seven cases. Treatment with low-dose antidepressants, such as doxepin hydrochloride or amitriptyline hydrochloride, resulted in symptom improvement or complete resolution in eight patients. One patient initially responded to sertraline and hydroxyzine hydrochloride but later relapsed. The study suggested that scalp dysesthesia might be a distinct syndrome that could respond to antidepressant medications, with a majority of the patients (nine out of eleven) experiencing positive outcomes.
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