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 head-scratching paradox and could point out ...

What’s common between a scratchy sweater, a mosquito bite, and poison ivy? A brush with any of them guarantees an itchy spot on the skin. Scratching that itch is extremely tempting because of how ...

When you scratch an itch, something tells your brain when to stop. That moment of relief, when scratching feels "enough," is not accidental. Scientists have now identified a key molecular and neural ...

It’s a universal childhood admonition: resist the urge to scratch that irritating bug bite or rash, lest you exacerbate the problem. Yet, the immediate relief scratching provides often makes this ...

Despite the saying “happiness is having a scratch for every itch,” itching often makes the itchy skin condition worse. So why is the instinct so strong? In a study with mice, researchers from the ...

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have uncovered new insights into the dual nature of scratching an itch, indicating that while it can worsen skin inflammation, it can also boost immune ...

Q: Is it true that you shouldn’t scratch itchy skin? What should I do instead? A: Scratching an itch can damage your skin and make the urge even worse. Instead, try rubbing or gently stroking it with ...

Scratching a bug bite or rash may seem irresistible, but it’ll only provide temporary relief and likely prolong the itch, researchers found. Scratching is a natural response to a skin irritant that ...

It's a universal childhood admonition: resist the urge to scratch that irritating bug bite or rash, lest you exacerbate the problem. Yet, the immediate relief scratching provides often makes this ...

How does the body know when to stop scratching an itch? New research is giving us more insight. Scientists have long known about the itch-scratch cycle. When an irritant gets on your skin, a ...

The Independent and Yahoo will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change. It’s a universal childhood admonition: resist the urge ...