HealthAugust 28, 2026

pruritus

proo-RYE-tuss

Definition

A formal medical term for the sensation of severe or persistent itching of the skin.

Etymology

The word comes directly from the Latin 'pruritus', which is derived from the verb 'prurire', meaning to itch or to be itchy.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe how skin conditions like chronic itching can lead to sleep disruption, creating a feedback loop that affects broader metabolic and cognitive health.

Reading the Skin: What the Body’s Largest Organ Reports About Everything Else

Read the full article ↗

WorldHealth.net

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