Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Capsaicin cream may help itching in dogs with atopic dermatitis
By Marsella, Rosanna et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2002·University of Florida, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The effects of capsaicin topical therapy in dogs with atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with atopic dermatitis (a skin allergy causing itching) was treated with a topical cream containing capsaicin, which is derived from chili peppers, to see if it would help reduce their itching. Owners reported that their dogs showed significant improvement after using the capsaicin cream twice a day for six weeks, although some dogs experienced a temporary increase in itching during the first week. The treatment was generally well tolerated, and while the veterinarians did not observe the same level of improvement, the results suggest that capsaicin could be a helpful option for managing itching in dogs with skin allergies.
People also search for: dog itching treatment · atopic dermatitis in dogs · capsaicin for dog skin problems
Abstract
The efficacy of twice daily topical application of capsaicin (0.025%) for the management of pruritus in dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) was evaluated in double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Twelve dogs with AD were randomly assigned to either 0.025% capsaicin or vehicle lotion applied twice daily for 6 weeks. After a 4-week wash-out period, treatments were switched. Significant improvement was reported by owners (P = 0.0006), but not by investigators. Owners noted temporary worsening of pruritus after the first week of capsaicin therapy. Overall capsaicin was well tolerated. Substance P (SP) concentrations in the skin did not correlate with the severity of the pruritus and did not change significantly over time and between treatments. Lesional skin had less SP than nonlesional skin (P = 0.03). These observations suggest that topical capsaicin should be further evaluated as an adjunctive antipruritic agent in dogs with AD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12074702/