Itching, Stinging, Burning? No Sweat

Small-fiber neuropathy has been associated with inflammation, infection, malignancy, metabolic disease, and connective tissue disease, and small-vessel neuropathies have previously been associated with erythromelalgia, prurigo nodularis, sensitive skin, burning mouth syndrome, brachioradial pruritus, and even nummular eczema. Many times, the cause is unknown. Eccrine sweating is mediated by neurotransmitters from small nerve fibers. If itching, stinging, burning, or tingling sensations are caused by small-fiber neuropathies, sweating might also be affected. To test this hypothesis, investigators reviewed records of 227 patients with sensory neuropathies, alone or together, of itch, burning, numbness or tingling, erythromelalgia, or certain …