Scratching where it itches reduces the presence of potentially harmful bacteria on the skin, studies in mice show.

Ahead, 10 itches you should never scratch. Get The Healthy by Reader's Digest newsletter  Itches you shouldn't scratch 1.

and the nervous system could lead to the development of more effective therapies for managing itch and reducing inflammation in skin disorders. “This is really fertile territory to develop therapies ...

"Hives occur when the body releases histamine in response to ... "This includes discoid eczema, which causes itchy, swollen and cracked skin in circular patches," he says. "It could also be ...

Mice that were free to scratch their itchy ears saw the number of immune cells go up and levels of infection-causing bacteria ...

Oestrogen is a crucial hormone for female reproductive health During menopause oestrogen levels are likely to drop leading to ...

But at the end of it all, doctors were left scratching their heads, and John, his body. When he read about our work on the internet, John sought our help right away. While describing his symptoms, ...

Kidney disease can lead to itchy skin or a rash. This can occur at any stage of the disease, but it is most common in more advanced stages. When it occurs, it may appear all over the body or in ...

Especially as itching, of course ... of various chemicals and hormones that drive inflammation both in the body and the skin,” explains Ahmed. “Feelings of emotional distress, like anxiety ...

Scabies occurs when mites burrow into the skin. This can affect the whole body, and it typically causes an extreme itching sensation. Scabies may appear on the penis as small raised bumps on the ...