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 ...

Many people assume itchy skin always comes from an allergy, a rash, or a visible skin condition.

In contrast, inflammation and swelling were much milder in normal mice that couldn't scratch because they wore tiny Elizabethan collars, similar to a "cone of shame" that a dog might sport after a ...

Russell has a PhD in the history of medicine, violence, and colonialism. His research has explored topics including ethics, science governance, and medical involvement in violent contexts. Russell has ...

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 ...

Scratching a mosquito bite can offer a moment of bliss, and now scientists know why: scratching activates an immune response that helps to protect the skin against harmful infections, at least in mice ...

You’re finally comfortable in bed, drifting peacefully toward sleep when suddenly—itch. You scratch. Another itch pops up. Before you know it, you’re wide awake and scratching like crazy, wondering if ...

Facial itch uses unique nerve pathways linked to pain, revealing why itch on the face feels different from itch elsewhere on ...