An excoriation is an erosion or destruction of the skin by mechanical means, which appears in the form of a scratch or abrasion of the skin. The skin is the outer covering of living tissue of an animal (or plant It is commonly seen in other skin disorders causing itching/pruritus: dry skin, dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, scabies, etc. Dermatitis is a Blanket term meaning any " Inflammation of the skin" (e Atopic dermatitis, also known as atopic eczema, is a disease characterized by Chronic inflammation of the skin which is atopic, hereditary and non-contagious Scabies is a transmissible ectoparasite Skin Infection characterized by superficial Burrows intense pruritus (itching and Secondary The condition is characteristic of a symptom of other illnesses like liver failure where pruritus is caused by increases of bilirubin. A symptom' (from Greek σύμπτωμα, "accident misfortune that which befalls" from συμπίπτω, "I befall" from Liver failure is the inability of the Liver to perform its normal synthetic and metabolic function as part of normal physiology Itch ( Latin: pruritus) is an unpleasant Sensation that evokes the desire or Reflex to scratch Bilirubin (formerly referred to as hematoidin) is the yellow breakdown product of normal Heme Catabolism.

The term can be associated with neurotic excoriations. Neurotic excoriations are considered psychiatric in etiology. Etiology (alternatively aetiology, aitiology) is the study of causation. A patient with neurotic excoriations should try to avoid picking and scratching their skin. Because of this, another diagnosis should be made if the lesions are found on areas where the hands do not make contact. A lesion is any abnormal tissue found on or in an organism usually damaged by disease or trauma It doesn't exclude the possibility, but makes it less likely. The disorder is typically found among females more than males. Damage is common on the face, neck, back, and extremities, and damage to the skin is generally caused by rubbing, scratching, and picking. The term face refers to the central sense organ complex for those animals that have one normally on the ventral surface of the head and can depending on the definition The neck is the part of the Body on many limbed Vertebrates that distinguishes the head from the Torso or trunk Severe itching from other causes may mimic this disorder.

Diagnosis is often made by exclusion and is identified and isolated by bandaging areas affected unless any improvement to the affected area or significant change in behavior is witnessed.

Treatment may include periodic bandaging, psychiatric guidance with life adjustments, lotions with or without menthol and phenol (hopefully to take the place of scratching). Menthol is an Organic compound made synthetically or obtained from Peppermint or other mint oils Phenol, is a toxic colourless Crystalline Solid with a sweet tarry odor commonly referred to as a "hospital smell" Antidepressants may work in patients with neurotic excoriations. An antidepressant is a Psychiatric medication used for alleviating major depression or Dysthymia ('milder' depression Other medications like bedtime antihistamines, antipruritic, sometimes pimozide, or topical corticosteroids are used if there is another reason for the scratching. A histamine antagonist is an agent which serves to inhibit the release or action of Histamine. Antipruritics, also known as anti-itch drugs, are Medications that inhibit the Itching (Latin Pruritus) that is often associated with Sunburns Pimozide (sold as Orap) is an Antipsychotic drug. It was discovered at Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1963. Corticosteroids are a class of Steroid hormones that are produced in the Adrenal cortex. These are reserved for other conditions and further work up should be pursued.

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