Staphylococcal neurodermatitis. Illustration of bacterial infection of the skin in a case of neurodermatitis. Neurodermatitis typically starts with skin inflammation or infection causing the skin to itch. However, scratching makes the affected area of skin even itchier due to irritated nerve endings in the skin. This results in thick, leathery, scaly skin. The condition is also known as lichen simplex chronicus. The infection here is by Staphylococcus bacteria (round).