Patients with pruritus but no rash

The patient who presents with a blemish-free skin but nevertheless complains of distressing pruritus must be one of the more difficult problems that a practitioner has to manage. Exactly where does one begin and how does one construct treatment for this problem? This article is written from a very practical point of view and is designed to help with the many different sorts of patients who present with the above problem. More detailed general references are suggested for further reading, including one by an author who is qualified in both dermatology and psychiatry, and who has written extensively on the overlap between these disciplines.