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• Chronic pruritus (CP) is hard to treat and often refractory to conventional drugs. • Higher understanding of the pathophysiology led to identification of new targets. • Promising novel agents for CP are in phase II and phase III trials. • Guidelines offer approach to current management of CP. Chronic pruritus is a highly prevalent, debilitating disease, which is often refractory to conventional therapies. A step-wise, guideline-driven approach should be adopted in the management of these patients. Emollients as well as topical corticosteroids if appropriate should be initiated whilst looking for the cause underlying the pruritus. If these measures fail, and the origin of the pruritus remains unknown, cannot be treated or does not respond to therapy, systemic therapies as for example gabapentinoids, antidepressants, mu-opioid-receptor antagonists or, in case of inflammatory conditions, immunosuppressive drugs should be recommended. Novel agents, especially systemic monoclonal antibodies, neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists and opioid receptor modulators, are promising in providing relief in refractory cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]