Lichen simplex chronicus (also known as "Neurodermatitis") is a skin

Skin

-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...

 disorder characterized by chronic itching and scratching. The constant scratching causes thick, leathery, brownish skin.

Causes

This is a skin disorder characterized by a self-perpetuating scratch-itch cycle:

• It may begin with something that rubs, irritates, or scratches the skin, such as clothing.
• This causes the person to rub or scratch the affected area. Constant scratching causes the skin to thicken.
• The thickened skin itches, causing more scratching, causing more thickening.

The skin may become leathery and brownish in the affected area.
This disorder may be associated with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, chronically relapsing, non-contagious and pruritic skin disorder...

 (eczema

Eczema

Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...

) or psoriasis

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...

. It may also be associated with nervousness

Anxiety

Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...

, anxiety

Anxiety

Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...

, depression

Clinical depression

Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...

, and other psychological disorders.

It is common in children, who chronically scratch insect bite

Insect bite

Insect bites and stings occur when an insect is agitated and seeks to defend itself through its natural defense mechanisms, or when an insect seeks to feed off the bitten person. Some insects inject formic acid, which can cause an immediate skin reaction often resulting in redness and swelling in...

s and other areas. It can also be common in mentally retarded children who have chronic repetitive movements.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at reducing itching and minimizing existing lesions because rubbing and scratching cause lichen simplex chronicus. The itching and inflammation may be treated with a lotion or steroid

Steroid

A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...

cream applied to the affected area of the skin.