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 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 ...

Studies show that scratching overrides itch signals and engages pain-modulating regions in the brain, creating a sense of ...

Everyone knows what it’s like to itch. And the sensation can drive you mad. Or, if you’re Yan-Gang Sun of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it can drive you to explore how the brain tells you it’s time ...

Do you feel an itch, right now, working its way down the back of your neck? Scratching temporarily relieves that itch, but can also make it worse. Now researchers at the Center for the Study of Itch ...

PITTSBURGH — When you feel that irresistible urge to scratch an itch, you’re activating an evolutionary defense system. New research from the University of Pittsburgh reveals a fascinating paradox: ...

While summer may be the time of year most associated with itchy insect bites, winter can bring scratchy skin for a whole different reason. Many people find the plummeting temperatures – plus going in ...

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 ...