Humans and other mammals can sometimes experience itch, an uncomfortable sensation that prompts them to scratch specific parts of their bodies. Past studies on humans and other primates have found ...

Seeing someone scratch often spurs an itchy feeling that wasn’t there before. Itches may be contagious for mice, too, according to a study published Friday (March 10) in Science. “Scratching is an ...

WASHINGTON — You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. But why would ...

Despite the saying “happiness is having a scratch for every itch,” itching often makes the itchy skin condition worse. So why is the instinct so strong? In a study with mice, researchers from the ...

Specialized neurons and vellus-like hair in mice signal mechanical itch in response to touch, paving the way for chronic itch treatments.

Scientists have found a way to manipulate the neurons in mice that respond to itch — and, in the process, have settled a longstanding debate: Is itchiness just a form of pain, or a separate, unique ...