Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition that has a hosts of bothersome and sometimes debilitating symptoms. Some of these symptoms affect the skin as a result of nerve damage sustained during the course of the disease. Individuals with multiple sclerosis may experience one or more of these skin symptoms.
Numbness
Skin numbness is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis may be the very first symptom of the disease. Numbness may affect the arms, legs, face or any other part of the body. The severity of the numbness varies greatly among individuals. For some the numbness may be very mild, but for others the numbness may be so severe that they are limited in their daily activities. Numbness may affect one's ability to walk, dress, write or properly grasp objects.
Tingling
Individuals with multiple sclerosis may experience intermittent tingling of the skin. This sensation often feels similar to the way the skin feels after a limb has "gone to sleep" and then movement is attempted again. Normally, tingling would go away as the limb is moved, but this is not the case with multiples sclerosis tingling, which may come and go without warning.
Pain
Individuals with multiple sclerosis may experience burning pains throughout the surface of their skin. The pain may also be an aching pain or may feel like a prickling pain.
Itching
Multiple sclerosis sufferers may experience sudden, intense itching. Typically, these itching episodes are brief. The itching may occur on the face of anywhere else on the body. Multiple sclerosis itching is not relieved by scratching the affected area.
Treatment for Skin Symptoms
Oral corticosteroids are often prescribed to individuals with multiple sclerosis. These medications can reduce inflammation as well as the incidence of skin symptoms that occur due to inflammed nerves.
Skin itching associated with multiple sclerosis will not respond to treatment with topical corticosteroid medications that are usually used for allergy-related itching. However, some other medications such as Tegretol, Dilantin, Neurotin, Elavil and Atarax may help suppress itching.
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