Professor Dan Kaplan

If you think about what itch is, it's our body's response to some kind of insult on the skin, either a bug bite or some kind of chemical on the skin. And then the response is scratching. And usually we scratch until it starts to hurt.

If you think about what itch is, it's our body's response to some kind of insult on the skin, either a bug bite or some kind of chemical on the skin. And then the response is scratching. And usually we scratch until it starts to hurt.

The interesting thing that we found is that it is actually the act of scratching and the activation of neurons that sense pain that leads to an increased inflammation in the skin. And the detriment of that is it makes your rash worse. Your mosquito bite that you scratch is significantly worse and lasts much longer than if you are able to resist this temptation to scratch that bite.

The interesting thing that we found is that it is actually the act of scratching and the activation of neurons that sense pain that leads to an increased inflammation in the skin. And the detriment of that is it makes your rash worse. Your mosquito bite that you scratch is significantly worse and lasts much longer than if you are able to resist this temptation to scratch that bite.

However, it also causes increased resistance to bacteria on the skin. So the scratching can actually help reduce bacteria on the skin and presumably reduce the risk of infection.

However, it also causes increased resistance to bacteria on the skin. So the scratching can actually help reduce bacteria on the skin and presumably reduce the risk of infection.

Absolutely. I think it's a behavior that is reinforced. So usually if there's a behavior that's reinforced, there should be some good reason why it's reinforced and why it has persisted through evolution.

Absolutely. I think it's a behavior that is reinforced. So usually if there's a behavior that's reinforced, there should be some good reason why it's reinforced and why it has persisted through evolution.

Oh, I don't think that's really good advice because there's a big distinction between acute itch and chronic itch. So if you do scratch, there may be some benefit to reduced bacteria. But ultimately what you do is you make the rash for the mosquito bites significantly worse.

Oh, I don't think that's really good advice because there's a big distinction between acute itch and chronic itch. So if you do scratch, there may be some benefit to reduced bacteria. But ultimately what you do is you make the rash for the mosquito bites significantly worse.

And if you continue to scratch a lesion, you will actually cause destruction to the skin, and that may ultimately cause an even higher risk of infection. So I think there is a benefit to scratching in the short term, but long-term scratching is certainly quite detrimental.

And if you continue to scratch a lesion, you will actually cause destruction to the skin, and that may ultimately cause an even higher risk of infection. So I think there is a benefit to scratching in the short term, but long-term scratching is certainly quite detrimental.

Of course. So dermatitis, also known as eczema, one of the major symptoms is itch, and it's actually quite a problem. Most people who have dermatitis find that when they scratch it, it'll feel good, but it will ultimately make the itch and the rash itself significantly worse. And so in those cases, scratching is one of the worst things you can do to your dermatitis.

Of course. So dermatitis, also known as eczema, one of the major symptoms is itch, and it's actually quite a problem. Most people who have dermatitis find that when they scratch it, it'll feel good, but it will ultimately make the itch and the rash itself significantly worse. And so in those cases, scratching is one of the worst things you can do to your dermatitis.

It actually significantly can make it worse.

It actually significantly can make it worse.

That sounds like prudent advice.

That sounds like prudent advice.