Pruritic and antipruritic colors: An exploratory pilot study.

Itch is the commonest skin-related symptom and can be influenced by visual cues as exemplified by the phenomenon of "contagious itch." Colors are visual cues able to modify somatosensory inputs. We explored the relationship of colors and itch and the impact of color viewing on itch intensity. In this cross-sectional study, patients suffering from itch with a mean intensity of ≥2 on a Numerical Rating Scale during the last 7 days were evaluated. The study consisted of a questionnaire-based part using The Manchester Color Wheel and the ItchyQoL, followed by an interventional part. All 72 itch patients were able to match their itchy sensation with a color: In 68 patients (94.4%) this "pruritic…