title: Opioids and the skin: "itchy" perspectives beyond analgesia and abuse.
abstract: Opioids are intimately linked to central pain inhibition and their abuse potential. Thus, peripheral opioid receptors in the skin have been studied initially with a focus on their peripheral analgesic properties. Recent results, however, clearly indicate that opioids play a specific role in skin homeostasis by modulating keratinocyte differentiation, wound healing, and inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology-Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Martin.schmelz@anaes.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmelz
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paus
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D011957:Receptors, Opioid