Why scratching is bad

This episode features dermatologist Diana Bolotin, MD. Listen as Dr. Bolotin answers questions related to adult dermatology. We offer online appointment scheduling for video and in-person appointments for adult and pediatric primary care and many specialties. Skip to content Appointments Close Appointments Schedule your appointment online for primary care and many specialties.

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Forefront Neuroscience. Excoriation disorder: When scratching becomes more than a nervous habit. Call Us At Adult Dermatology with Dr. Diana Bolotin. Debunking six myths about multiple sclerosis. They achieved this by stimulating itching in the mice using the injected substance and then systematically activated different combinations of serotonin receptors on GRPR neurons.

To establish that 5HT1A was the correct receptor, the team administered a compound to block this receptor in mice, which resulted in the mice scratching much less. As the team decided against blocking serotonin as a therapeutic option because of the widespread consequences its inhibition would have for the body, we asked Dr. Chen what consequences blocking 5HT1A might have. However, Dr. Chen identifies the itch-pain cycle as happening in this order:.

Next, the team will continue to work toward better understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in this cycle. A recent study examined how air pollutants impact brain networks to mediate changes in cognitive function and enhance the risk of depression.

A new study investigates whether or not regularly consuming mushrooms might reduce the risk of developing depression. The authors conclude that it….

Our sensory neurons are constantly bombarded with stimuli, so some sensations take precedence over others. Sensory signals of one type can be overridden by signals of other types if the latter are strong enough. In this way, the pain caused by scratching is often sufficient to drown out the itch—but only temporarily. Cells in the brain stem produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which quells pain. But according to Zhou-Feng Chen, Ph.

Scratching, as most of us know, blocks the itching sensation, but doing so can cause pain, which temporarily distracts the brain from the itch. These pain signals are transmitted to the brain by nerve cells, similar to the ones that signaled the itch to begin with.

So, to recap, you feel an itch based on nerve cells just existing and doing their thing. Then you scratch it, cooperatively, causing relief but also a little pain, which alerts your brain, respectfully, to make the pain stop.