[HN Gopher] Is there a benefit to scratching that itch? Yes and ...
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Is there a benefit to scratching that itch? Yes and no, says new
study
Author : zfg
Score : 24 points
Date : 2025-01-31 12:34 UTC (3 days ago)
(HTM) web link (newatlas.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (newatlas.com)
| ctrlp wrote:
| Lab Mouse is officially the worst job in the world.
| ryandvm wrote:
| tl;dr Scratching an itchy spot boosts the local inflammation and
| immune response.
|
| I know people hate the "just so" stories, but from an
| evolutionary perspective it makes sense. You get a parasite, it
| itches, you scratch it, which removes the parasite and kicks up
| the local immune response.
| andrewflnr wrote:
| > which removes the parasite
|
| This is probably one of the big evolutionary factors they
| didn't mention. Scratching at mosquito bites after the mosquito
| is already gone might just be an unfortunate side effect.
| the_arun wrote:
| I always thought the dry skin causes the itch (when I don't see
| any bug bites). So scratching would relieve us from dry skin.
| But, I learned something today.
| rob74 wrote:
| Yes, (very) dry skin can also itch. In that case I would
| suggest moisturizing cream, scratching definitely won't make it
| go away...
| pharrington wrote:
| We already knew that scratching causes an inflammatory response.
| Where the specific mechanisms involved that the study found
| previously unknown?
|
| (editted to reword my question)
| Gravityloss wrote:
| Hmm but this was an allergen, where having more white blood cells
| at the site isn't beneficiary. If it was bacteria or a parasite,
| then the story might be very different.
| nickburns wrote:
| TFA: "That being said, because mast cells are
| also involved in innate immunity, the researchers wondered if
| scratching's role in activating them conveys some kind of
| infection-fighting benefit. Sure enough, they
| found that scratching did in fact reduce the amount of
| Staphylococcus aureus on the skin. S. aureus is the most common
| bacteria involved in skin infections and is most famously
| responsible for staph infections. Still, in the
| research team's opinion, the reduction in this bacteria from
| scratching doesn't outweigh the way in which the behavior
| worsens the area around an itch."
| nitwit005 wrote:
| Which doesn't address what the parent comment about. They
| didn't infect them with parasites, or any number of other
| issues that cause an itching sensation.
| andrewflnr wrote:
| It addressed most of the comment. Most directly, the
| "bacteria or..." part. And I'm sure the immune response to
| a parasite isn't exactly the same, but it's not hard to
| extrapolate that the same principle of increased immune
| activity being beneficial applies in that case as well.
| Izkata wrote:
| Ages ago I started trying to scratch itches through some fabric,
| like a shirt sleeve or something, so I wouldn't damage the skin
| (keep the fabric stationary on the itchy skin and drag your hand
| across the fabric). For some reason it's almost as satisfying as
| scratching directly, so I wonder if it gets the benefit without
| the downside here.
| exe34 wrote:
| I've found that gentle rubbing/massage has the same effect,
| although I need to remember it.
|
| also scratching through clothes hasn't always stopped me from
| drawing blood.
| taeric wrote:
| This is what I recall being taught as a kid with bad
| allergies and various skin conditions. Rubbing can be
| helpful. If so, consider rinsing with water to make sure you
| don't have any residual thing there upsetting your skin.
|
| Scratching through fabric is difficult because, if it does
| work, it could also trap the irritant in the fabric.
| eastbound wrote:
| I just press my nail into it, to avoid scratching but to still
| cause the counter-itching effect.
| sambeau wrote:
| (in mice)
| LeoPanthera wrote:
| For persistent itches, a most effective remedy I've found is to
| pour hot water on it. Not burning - but as hot as you can
| possibly stand without burning. The hotter the better.
|
| It is only briefly painful, but it kills itches completely. I
| don't know why it works, but it definitely does work.
| tithe wrote:
| Just be careful if you believe the itch is the result of
| something you might be allergic to (e.g., food, or bug bites).
|
| I had several bites from fire ants and ran them under hot water
| from the bath, which seemed to trigger (or accelerate) a full-
| body reaction (anaphylaxis?) and a harrowing trip to the
| emergency room!
| krior wrote:
| There are penlike devices that apply heat and remove the itch
| as well. propably safer and more accessible that hot water.
| sandworm101 wrote:
| Afterbite. Its mostly acid and other caustic stuff to clean
| the area and kill off any nerve endings immediately inside
| the bite wound. It works. Just don't itch too much before
| applying. Afterbite on a scratched bite _hurts_ like acid on
| a wound ... which it is.
|
| https://afterbite.com/
| CoastalCoder wrote:
| For large swaths of dry skin, I've found that dragging a
| (retired) credit card across the skin works incredibly well.
|
| It's rough enough to scratch the itch, but gentle enough to not
| break the skin.
| seb1204 wrote:
| Yep, for mozzie bites there are pens that have a hot tip that
| you press on the itch. I think the heat breaks down the stuff
| (protein?) that is causing the itch.
| PaulHoule wrote:
| ... but it hurts so good!
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