Control The Itch Without Scratching
Does scratching your itchy skin feel like a never-ending problem? Here’s good news. There are ways to stop that itch-scratch cycle.
If you’re suffering from eczema, you surely know the bittersweet satisfaction that comes from scratching an itchy skin. Whether mild or severe, itching is one of the unavoidable symptoms of eczema. Whenever you itch, your automatic reaction is to scratch your skin, and it surely feels good every time. However, the relief you get from scratching is temporary. What’s worse, scratching may end up aggravating your skin condition. Eczema flares, for instance, can be triggered by the never-ending itch-scratch cycle.
While you might be tempted to blame yourself for being too weak to resist scratching, this automated response to itching is caused by something greater than your will power. There’s actually a scientific study that aims to explain it.
The results of the study conducted by experts from the Center for the Study of Itch of the Washington University School of Medicine suggests that relieving an itch by scratching can actually cause a feeling of pleasure. The pleasure you get from scratching your skin can be connected to both the temporary riddance of the itch and the release of serotonin, a molecule released by the brain in response to the pain caused by scratching. However, the itch sensation will keep coming back since serotonin will react with receptors on neurons that may carry itch signals to your brain, making the itch worse.
If you find yourself caught up inside such a vicious circle, worry not as there are several things you can do to manage the itch caused by eczema. Here are some tips to finally break that itch-scratch cycle:
Resources:
Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Singapore
http://www.annals.edu.sg/pdf/45VolNo10Oct2016/MemberOnly/V45N10p439.pdf
The Itch-Scratch Cycle: A Review of the Mechanisms
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502296/
Descending control of itch transmission by the serotonergic system via 5-HT1A-facilitated GRP-GRPR signaling
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25453842
Serotonin Drives Vicious Cycle of Itching and Scratching
https://www.niams.nih.gov/newsroom/research-briefs/serotonin-drives-vicious-cycle-itching-and-scratching