Neurodermatitis, or lichen simplex chronicus, is a skin disorder in which the skin becomes irritated, causing chronic itching and uncontrollable scratching. More women than men have neurodermatitis, and it tends to affect people between 20 and 50 years of age. The involved areas of skin are otherwise normal and healthy – the problem is not the skin but the itching. The cycle of itching and scratching causes the skin to thicken and become scaly. The challenge in treating neurodermatitis is to break this cycle. Symptoms and signs of neurodermatitis in TCM include as follows:

1. Syndrome of Wind and Heat Accumulating in the Skin
Main Symptoms: In the early stage, it often occurs on the neck and face. The skin lesion is often manifested by papule in predominance, or erythema and paroxysmal pruritus, accompanied by red tongue tip, white and slightly yellow coating, superficial and rapid pulse.

2. Syndrome of Fire Generation by Liver Oi Stagnation
Main Symptoms: Red color in skin lesion, accompanied by susceptibility to rage , dysphoria, insomnia,dream-disturbed sleep, dizziness, palpitation, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, red tongue margin, wiry or rapid pulse.

3. Syndrome of Blood Deficiency and Wind-Dryness
Main Symptoms: Skin lesion in gray color after long duration, scratched like dry wood, thick and coarse like cow skin, accompanied by palpitation, insomnia, amnesia, irregular menstruation in female, pale tongue,deep and thready pulse.