Tag Archive for 'Itch'

Scratching synergizes with FcεRI mast cell activation to drive allergic skin inflammation. Image credit: Liu et al., doi: 10.1126/science.adn9390.

Scratching an Itch Promotes Allergic Inflammation, Study Shows

Jan 31, 2025 by News Staff

Itch is a dominant symptom in dermatitis (eczema), and scratching promotes cutaneous inflammation, thereby worsening disease. However, the mechanisms through...

Itch is an unpleasant sensation that evokes a desire to scratch. The skin barrier is constantly exposed to microbes and their products. However, the role of microbes in itch generation is unknown. Deng et al. show that Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial pathogen associated with itchy skin diseases, directly activates pruriceptor sensory neurons to drive itch. Image credit: Deng et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.019.

Common Skin Bacterium Can Cause Itch and Scratch-Induced Skin Damage, Study Says

Nov 23, 2023 by News Staff

New research by Harvard Medical School scientists shows that a common skin bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus causes itch by instigating a molecular...