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Is there a benefit to scratching that itch? Yes and no, says new study
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 as long as you can.
Some of these mice were allowed to scratch all they wanted, while others were modified to lack itch-sensing neurons in the area, and a third group wore scratch-preventing Elizabethan collars, similar to what are often referred to as "cones of shame" when worn by dogs. “In contact dermatitis, mast cells are directly activated by allergens, which drives minor inflammation and itchiness,” said senior study author Daniel Kaplan. 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.
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