Previously submitted to: JMIR Dermatology (no longer under consideration since Apr 15, 2026)
Date Submitted: Sep 23, 2024
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Comparison of Clinical Characteristics Between Hell’s Itch and Aquagenic Pruritus: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Hell's Itch (HI) is a poorly understood condition triggered by UV exposure, while Aquagenic Pruritus (AP) causes severe itching after water exposure. Both conditions are distinct from other photosensitive disorders due to the lack of skin changes.
Objective:
To investigate the clinical characteristics of HI and compare them with AP, analyzing similarities and differences in symptom occurrence and severity.
Methods:
Cross-sectional surveys were conducted within HI and AP communities (N=671 and N=254, respectively) to assess symptom occurrence and severity.
Results:
Both conditions shared similar pruritus severity. However, pain severity was significantly different, with HI participants reporting more intense pain (92.23%, severity 7.45) compared to AP (39.91%, severity 6.35, P=.0003).
Conclusions:
The findings suggest potential shared pathogenic mechanisms between HI and AP, emphasizing the need for further research to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies.
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