At one time or another we’ve all experienced itchy skin and there’s nothing more natural than scratching to relieve that sensation. Itchy skin is medically referred to as “pruritis” with causes that can range from allergic reactions, eczema, psoriasis or extreme dryness. Itchiness may be accompanied by a red rash, little bumps, hives or the skin may appear completely normal.
When we suffer from itchy skin, we scratch. It turns out our mothers were right in telling us not to. This simple and reflexive action simply begins a vicious circle that only makes the skin itchier than ever, and now scientists can explain why. It may all come down to the neurotransmitter serotonin, produced in the body and which carries signals along and between nerves.
Serotonin is known to help maintain mood balance, control pain and is involved in other functions such as appetite and digestion. When we scratch an itch, the brain perceives this as pain and automatically sends out the message to produce serotonin to control the sensation. As scientists discovered, however, serotonin can move from the pain-sensing neurons to those that influence itch intensity, making the skin even more irritated. As the itching-scratching cycle continues, skin can become raw, opening it up to infection and bacteria. The damage can take weeks to heal and leave lasting scars that require even longer to fade.
This discovery is actually good news for chronic itch sufferers, particularly those who must deal with intense itching sensations from eczema or psoriasis. Understanding the links between itching, the brain’s response and serotonin has given scientists a new lead on how these skin conditions may be treated in the future. In tests using mice models whose specific serotonin receptors, gene HTR7, were removed, there was a dramatic decrease in itching.
Until more progress is made, soothe itchy skin with short-term use of topical anesthetics such as lidocaine or benzocaine. Non-prescription hydrocortisone and oral antihistamines may also provide some relief. If itchy skin is due to extreme dryness, choose a lotion like Impruv Barrier Cream for Dry Skin or La Roche Posay Lipikar AP+ Body Baume, both specially formulated to treat very dry and irritated skin. And do as Mom says: try not to scratch.
