PITTSBURGH — When you feel that irresistible urge to scratch an itch, you’re activating an evolutionary defense system. New ...

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have uncovered new insights into the dual nature of scratching an itch, indicating that while it can worsen skin inflammation, it can also boost immune ...

Your parents were right: Scratching an itchy rash really does make it worse. Now we know why, thanks to new research published today in the journal Science that uncovers how scratching aggravates ...

Q: Is it true that you shouldn’t scratch itchy skin? What should I do instead? A: Scratching an itch can damage your skin and make the urge even worse. Instead, try rubbing or gently stroking it with ...

From stress to product buildup, experts reveal what causes an itchy, flaky scalp and the best products to help soothe it ...

Mosquito bites are itchy and we tend to scratch itchy things. The scratching feels good in the short term but tends to hasten and exacerbate swelling and inflammation. This leads to more scratching ...

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

When I was a kid, my mom would say, “Don’t scratch that itch, it will only make it worse.” And multiple elementary school teachers told me, “Holding an injury doesn’t help. Leave it alone.” But it ...

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic (long-lasting) skin condition that causes dry, itchy patches of skin that may crack or ooze. It is the most common form of eczema. Itchiness occurs when an overactive ...