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 ...

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

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 ...

The brain’s appetite for a good scratch is insatiable, and scientists are starting to understand why. Mom knew what she was talking about after all: Scratching really does make the itch worse. Good as ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...