Is it OK to scratch that itch?

Summer is the itchiest season. We must contend with poisonous plants, biting bugs, angry eczema and the age-old question — to scratch or not to scratch?
New research from the lab of Dan Kaplan, a professor in Pitt’s Department of Dermatology, not only helps to resolve that conundrum but also explains why we itch at all. Here’s what he had to say:

Why do we itch? 

Itching is a universal phenomenon among animals. “Even fish itch,” Kaplan says. The sensation prompts us to get rid of parasites or irritants, whether it’s fish rubbing against a coral reef or humans raking fingernails across skin. But that relief can come at a cost—raw rashes and broken skin.
If scratching is bad, why does it feel so good?

That is the question Kaplan and his team wanted to answer. They outfitted mice with tiny Elizabethan collars (“Yes, they do exist.”) to keep them from scratching and introduced common irritants. The mice that wore collars and weren’t able to scratch showed some irritation that quickly dissipated. The mice that scratched triggered an immune response that led to more itching, further irritation and even pain. But with that pain came an unexpected benefit—an enhanced capacity to clear skin infection.

It’s never too late to stop

So scratching is good? Yes, scratching causes an immune response that eventually leads to an antibacterial benefit, but you’ll be pretty miserable along the way. Kaplan’s professional opinion is that scratching just isn’t worth it.

“If you have a mosquito bite and you ignore it, it tends to go away pretty quickly,” he says. “If you have a mosquito bite and you do a good job scratching it, you’re going to have an itchy bump for a week or two, and you’re going to regret your decision. 

“Your mother was right — don’t scratch.”