Up to Scratch: Testing a Promising Anti-Itch Topical Medication
Update 21.06.2022
Scientists conduct pilot trial to
test the effectiveness of a novel drug that may instantly relieve itching
Skin
conditions that cause chronic itching can affect one’s quality of life.
Unfortunately, available topical treatments, such as menthol, do not provide
lasting relief and can cause irritation. Now, scientists from Hallym University
College of Medicine, Korea, have conducted a randomized controlled trial for
Cryosim-1, a promising chemical with a cooling effect on the skin. Their
results show that Cryosim-1 may be useful for patients with urticaria,
providing near-instant and persistent itch relief.
Urticaria affects about 20% of the global population
at least once in their lifetime, making it an extremely common condition that
can significantly decrease one’s quality of life.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock
Excessive itching can quickly turn into a major
problem that reduces a person’s quality of life. If left unchecked, it can lead
to insomnia, negative moods, and stress. Unfortunately, although various
methods have been developed for keeping itches under control, most are unable
to do so immediately and instead take hours to have a noticeable effect. Thus,
many dermatologists around the world are looking for new ways to combat
itching.
One commonly used approach is the application of
menthol or similar topical cooling agents, which presumably inhibit pain- and
itch-related signaling by activating a cellular ion channel called “TRPM8.”
However, the relief provided by menthol doesn’t last long, and it can sometimes
cause irritation. This led to the creation of Cryosim-1, a chemical that
specifically targets TRPM8 channels and, when applied as a gel, produces a
quick cooling sensation that may relieve itching.
In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology, a team of scientists from Hallym
University College of Medicine, Korea, put Cryosim-1 gel to the test as an
anti-itching ointment. Led by Associate Professor Hye One Kim of the Department
of Dermatology at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, the team conducted a double-masked,
randomized controlled trial consisting of two parts. The study was supported by grants from Korea Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (2020-ER6714-00).
In the first part of the study, 39 patients with
recalcitrant itch were given either Cryosim-1 gel or a “vehicle-only” (or inactive)
gel and asked to provide a numeric rating for their itching on a scale from 0
to 10. The overall response of patients treated with Cryosim-1 was better than
those treated with the placebo, with the itch scale scores of the former
decreasing significantly within the first two hours and staying relatively low
after one week.
In the second part of the study, the researchers
provided eczema, urticaria, and post-shingles pruritus patients with Cryosim-1
gel and used the 5-D Itch Scale to analyze how they responded to the drug. “The
5-D Itch Scale is a useful tool that assesses various components of itch, such
as duration, distribution, and degree of itching, as well as how it affects
quality of life through disability,” explains Dr. Kim. The results showed
that Cryosim-1 was particularly effective for chronic urticaria patients, and
that the drug could provide relief in as little as 10 minutes. Moreover, the
anti-itching effect persisted at two hours post-administration.
Overall, this pilot trial lights a beacon of hope for
those suffering from urticaria, a condition that affects as much as 20% of the
population at least once in their life. “The standard treatment for
urticaria is oral antihistamines, which require a minimum of one hour for the
onset of its effects,” explains Dr. Kim. “Patients may prefer a topical
medication that provides instant relief, within minutes if possible.” Based
on the promising results of this study, Cryosim-1, as well as other TRPM8
activators, shall be further investigated as supplementary agents to treat
itching and, more specifically, urticaria.
Let us hope future topical medicines for itchy skin
are up to scratch!
Reference
Authors
Title of original paper
Journal Journal of the American
Academy of Dermatology
DOI 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.10.065
Affiliations 1Department of Dermatology, Kangnam Sacred Heart
Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine
2School of Public Health, University of California
3Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest
About National Institute of Health in Korea
The Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH), one
of the major operating components of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, leads
the nation’s medical research. Over the past seven decades, the KNIH has made
unwavering efforts to enhance the public’s health and innovate biomedical
research. The KNIH seeks to eradicate diseases and make people healthier. The
KNIH establishes a scientific basis and evidence underlying health policy as
well as provides national research infrastructures. We also promote public
health research. To this end, we make efforts to enrich a health research
environment by granting funds to research projects and keeping our resources,
data, and facilities more open and accessible to researchers.
Website:
http://www.nih.go.kr/eng/
About Associate Professor Hye
One Kim
Hye One Kim is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and the
Director of Dermatology at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Korea. Her group is
developing approaches to treat the pruritus in several dermatologic diseases.
They are also trying to find out an appropriate ion channel for treating
pruritic diseases.