Medical research

New clues into the head-scratching mystery of itch

Scientists at Harvard Medical School have shown for the first time that a common skin bacterium—Staphylococcus aureus—can cause itch by acting directly on nerve cells.

Inflammatory disorders

Video: Psoriasis of the scalp

Dr. Dawn Davis, a dermatologist at Mayo Clinic, says psoriasis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder primarily affecting the skin. She says psoriasis is inherited, and more people might have genes that make them more likely ...

Inflammatory disorders

New sensor objectively measures scratching intensity

Akhil Padmanabha knows about itching. His chronic itching caused by severe eczema was so debilitating that he was hospitalized twice and had to be home-schooled during most of his high school years. Itch so impacted his life ...

Neuroscience

Not all itches are the same, according to the brain

Itch is a protective signal that animals use to prevent parasites from introducing potentially hazardous pathogens into the body. If a mosquito lands on a person's arm, they sense its presence on their skin and quickly scratch ...

Health

How to relieve itchy psoriasis

Skin issues can have a serious impact on your health and well-being. For the 7.5 million Americans living with psoriasis, itch can be the most bothersome part of their condition because it can make it difficult to sleep and ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Fatty acid affects sensitivity of psoriasis plaques to heat, pain

A common fatty acid found in the Western diet breaks down into compounds that contribute to increased temperature and pain—but not itch—sensitivity in psoriatic lesions. The finding could lead to better understanding ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Scientists identify sensor underlying mechanical itch stimulus

Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have identified a protein in sensory nerves that works as a key detector of itch—specifically the "mechanical" itch stimulus of crawling insects, wool fibers, or other irritating ...

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