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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

I’ve owned cats my entire adult life, and my furniture bears the proof: Every cat I’ve ever owned has left shredded couch corners, pulled loops on my headboard and ruined door mats in their wake. No ...

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 ...

AI-enabled wearable sensors can significantly reduce nocturnal scratching in patients with mild atopic dermatitis through haptic feedback. The study demonstrated high accuracy, sensitivity, and ...

We've all had bug bites, or dry scalp, or a sunburn that causes itch. But what if you felt itchy all the time — and there was no relief? Journalist Annie Lowrey suffers from primary biliary ...

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 ...

For many cat guardians, scratching is a constant puzzle—sometimes an infuriating one. Why does your beloved feline insist on dragging their claws across your brand-new couch or leaving gouges on the ...

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 ...