Anyone who has ever scratched a mosquito bite knows the strange relief that comes when the itch finally fades. But for the ...

Why do we scratch? Scratching in response to itching is both pleasurable and harmful. In skin conditions, particularly dermatitis, scratching creates a vicious cycle, intensifying the itch and ...

Add Popular Science (opens in a new tab) More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.

Scratching an itchy rash can feel sooo good — that’s because the rubbing creates a mild pain sensation that distracts the brain from the itch. The pain triggers the brain to release serotonin, the ...

Anyone who has ever had a mosquito bite knows the paradox: scratching feels good for a second, then the itch roars back worse ...

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. It feels oh so good to scratch an itch, but exactly how much pleasure we get from scratching depends on exactly where on the body the ...

Scientists have uncovered a hidden “stop-scratching” signal in the nervous system that tells your brain when enough scratching is enough. The discovery centers on a molecule called TRPV4, which acts ...

Forget what your parents told you, scratching an itch may be good for you, by boosting your body’s defence against bacteria. Scratching is a paradoxical phenomenon. It can feel nice to run your nails ...