Zentai(Cicadae Periostracum) may exacerbate Itchiness in Atopic Dermatitis / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

Zentai (Cicadae Periostracum) is classified by traditional Chinese medicine as one of the “pungent cool-natured” drugs, but its pharmacological action is not well known yet.<br>Zentai is used in Shofu-san as an expelling pathogenic wind component for relieving itchiness for patients with eczema, dermatitis, urticaria, etc.<br>We examined a number of patients with atopic dermatitis whose condition worsened after they were treated with Zentai to relieve itchiness.<br>In the current study, five male and ten female adolescent/adult patients were randomly selected to receive 2.5g of Zentai. These patients had been treated with Kagen-ichiin-sen-ka-kiban-kyo and their skin conditions had been stable so far.<br>In a follow-up two weeks later, the water content of the horny layer of skin at the forehead and the anterior side of the forearm decreased significantly (p<0.05). In terms of the level of itchiness, two patients (13.3%) improved, nine patients (60%) worsened, and the other four (26.7%) remained unchanged.<br>The current study indicates that Zentai worsens dry skin and exacerbates itchiness. Care will be required in the use of Zentai for the treatment of atopic dermatitis because of its drying pharmacological character.