The itch from bug bites, rashes, and other skin conditions can sometimes be so overpowering that it feels impossible to avoid scratching them. But new research explains why you might want to hold off ...

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

That irresistible relief from scratching an itchy rash comes from the mild pain it causes, which distracts the brain from the itch. This slight discomfort prompts the brain to release serotonin, often ...

Scratching is a natural response to irritation, but when it becomes a persistent habit, it may signal deeper psychological issues. While many dismiss frequent scratching as merely annoying, research ...

Cats scratch to stay physically and emotionally healthy. Choose one of these cat-tested and pet-parent-approved cat scratching posts to keep felines happy (and your furniture safe). Our editors and ...

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 ...

Why does scratching an itch only make it worse? As it turns out, a brain-signaling chemical released in response to scratching has some unintended effects, scientists say. Scratching an itch provides ...

Hell is an itch that can't be scratched. Dante understood this. In his Inferno, he describes a ditch in the Eighth Circle of Hell where alchemists, counterfeiters, and liars are subjected to the burn ...

In the first study to use imaging technology to see what goes on in the brain when we scratch, researchers have uncovered new clues about why scratching may be so relieving -- and why it can be hard ...