Scratching an itch is almost irresistible — even though it can make a problem worse. Now researchers have discovered a mechanism that explains the "itch-scratch cycle".

Scratching isn’t just a bad habit — it’s an immune defense mechanism. While it fuels inflammation, it also helps fight ...

Itch-scratching is a paradox. It can be both bad and good for you, a new scientific study suggests. LIKE BOING BOING BUT NOT ...

Rubbing the skin vigorously leaves a mark and sometimes complicates the injury, as in some dermatitis cases. Now scientists ...

Scratching an itch can bring a contradictory wave of pleasure and misery. A mouse study on scratching, reported in the Jan. 31 Science, fleshes out this ...

The following is a summary of “Exploring itch in hidradenitis suppurativa with lessons from atopic dermatitis and psoriasis,” ...

Scratching where it itches reduces the presence of potentially harmful bacteria on the skin, studies in mice show.

New research uncovers the dual nature of scratching an itch; although it can worsen skin inflammation, it can also boost ...

Researchers studied genetically modified mice that lack NP2 itch-sensing neurons, to investigate the connection between itch, scratch, and inflammation.

Several studies have confirmed the effectiveness of capsaicin for itch in patients with psoriasis (Ellis et al., 1993). The exact mechanism is not fully understood; however, prolonged application ...