There may be no visible change in the affected skin or there may be a brown pigmentation, patchy loss of skin colour or thickening due to rubbing. There may be changed sensation when this is tested for with pinprick, cotton wool or heat and cold. They make a right-angled turn before reaching the skin. The nerves appear to be vulnerable to damage. The result is itch and sometimes altered sensations.
Visible changes arise from rubbing and scratching the affected area.
Treatment of notalgia paraesthetica Treatment is not always successful.