Mice that were free to scratch their itchy ears saw the number of immune cells go up and levels of infection-causing bacteria ...

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

When you’ve got an itch, your first instinct is to scratch it, bringing instant relief. However, any relief from scratching [ ...

“So, there’s a different pathway that triggers the itch and different pathway that triggers the inflammation.” For each pathway, a specific cytokine—a linchpin protein in the immune system ...

The researchers also demonstrated that scratching prompts pain-sensing neurons to release a chemical known as substance P, which triggers mast cells: cells involved in the immune system, causing ...

Scratching an itchy rash worsens inflammation by triggering pain-sensing neurons and activating mast cells, creating a ...

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

Bioengineered mice that were lacking an itch-sensing neuron exhibited a similarly muted reaction ... was greatly increased if the mice scratched and activated the second pathway. Scratching was a key ...

That irresistible relief from scratching an itchy rash comes from the mild pain it causes, which distracts the brain from the ...