We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
WE’VE ALL KNOWN forever that scratching isn’t the best way to handle an itch.
But now we know that not only does it cause scarring, it also makes the initial itch even worse.
There is a whole team at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis in the US that has dedicated itself to the problem.
They have discovered scientific proof that scratching an itch will make it worse.
Why?
Scratching can relieve itch by creating minor pain. But when the body responds to pain signals, that response actually can make itching worse.
Here’s the technical bit, which has been reported in the journal Neuron following the completion of a study on mice (although the same vicious cycle of itching and scratching is thought to occur in humans).
Scratching causes the brain to release serotonin, which intensifies the itch sensation.
So, why do we want to scratch an itch?
Scientists have known for decades that scratching creates a mild amount of pain in the skin, said senior investigator Zhou-Feng Chen, director of Washington University’s Center for the Study of Itch.
That pain can interfere with itching — at least temporarily — by getting nerve cells in the spinal cord to carry pain signals to the brain instead of itch signals.
The problem is that when the brain gets those pain signals, it responds by producing the neurotransmitter serotonin to help control that pain.But as serotonin spreads from the brain into the spinal cord, we found the chemical can ‘jump the tracks,’ moving from pain-sensing neurons to nerve cells that influence itch intensity.
Scientists uncovered serotonin’s role in controlling pain decades ago, but this is the first time the release of the chemical messenger from the brain has been linked to itch.
The study may be helpful for people with chronic itching issues as doctors are beginning to understand more about the pathways of itch and pain signals.
Scientists may now be able to interfere with the communication between serotonin and nerve cells in the spinal cord that transmit itch.
Those cells, known as GRPR neurons, relay itch signals from the skin to the brain. To work toward that goal, Chen’s team isolated the receptor used by serotonin to activate GRPR neurons.
To do this, Chen’s team injected mice with a substance that causes itching. They also gave the mice compounds that activated various serotonin receptors on nerve cells. Ultimately, they learned that the receptor known as 5HT1A was the key to activating the itch-specific GRPR neurons in the spinal cord.
To prove they had the correct receptor, Chen’s team also treated mice with a compound that blocked the 5HT1A receptor, and those mice scratched much less.
“We always have wondered why this vicious itch-pain cycle occurs,” Chen said. “Our findings suggest that the events happen in this order. First, you scratch, and that causes a sensation of pain. Then you make more serotonin to control the pain. But serotonin does more than only inhibit pain. Our new finding shows that it also makes itch worse by activating GRPR neurons through 5HT1A receptors.”
As Chen and co. continue to work on the project, they have one intermediary piece of advice.
Pay attention to mom’s advice and try not to scratch.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Lots of companies saying that they will support work from home forever, which is fine when everyone else is at home too, but definitely a challenge once more colleagues return to the office. No fun when you’re the only one at home struggling to get a word in at the team meeting and messaging your boss to remind them to dial into the Video call so that you can participate. I’ve enjoyed working from home but there’s definitely a layer of Innovation and collaboration that’s missing when you’re not in the office environment.
People learn from people how can they do that from there bedroom no interacting. My business is is distribution I’ve worked every day during supposed COVID. Get people back to work you don’t see people dying at the tills in Lidl or Tesco….
@Brian Corr: If your business is transportation would it not help if he traffic volume is lower
@Brian Corr: I’ve former work mates who run training for new starters and they say its been a nightmare at times trying to teach, it’s gotten to a point where they requested that they do in person training with new starters in the office once a week. People don’t realise when you start a new Job its just not the some doing training over zoom compared to in person. We will eventually have to take the covid training wheel’s off and at least make it an option. Other wise companies will eventually find ways around it like some did in relation to opening under the now joke of essential
@Brian Corr: supposed covid?
@Brian Corr: My skillset has increased dramatically since ive been working from home, has nothing got to do with interaction, but with how you manage yourself and your workliad…. Eveyone in the team is full time from home now and the productivity has never been better.
@Dave: Massive difference between existing staff upskilling and new staff trying to get up to speed with everyone else. I work in animation and its been a nightmare for new crew, they’ve struggled to get up to speed with everyone else and manage their time working alone at home, as result we’ve had awful mental health issues for some and no matter how much support we give its no were near the same as sitting next to a more senior crew member and just watching them work and being able to ask questions as they go rather then via a chat window. I’ve worked freelance for big chunks of my career so well able to work from home/remote but I don’t think I’d be were I am career wise if I had to work remote from day 01.
Just look at the traffic on the roads in the morning & evening there are lots more back working in offices now since all the schools opened,
Mícheál will say this
Leo will say that
Donnelly will say anything to grab a headline
And Eamon will sleep through it all
@trebloc01: Sush…..you will wake Eamon
I might be mistaken but I read in the NY Times that pretty much all the tech giants are giving their employees notice that they intend on bringing them back to the office.
@Robert Clifford:
No, not the case. In fact, lowering office footprint and costs is now a KPI and will be seen on P&L’s long into future
@Robert Clifford: it doesn’t surprise me, the option to maybe work from home some days will be there but this fantasy that companies especially tech giants would suddenly turn round after spending so much investing in office spaces etc for its operations, was then gonna turn round and tell everyone nah you fine folks work away from home. As I said some maybe offered the option, it might even suit some to work from home, but I see plenty coming back maybe doing a blended week of home and office
@Tarraing Mo Liathróidí:
Shareholders demand savings were possible.
I already know some office’s already back working, one cos the power trip mad supervisor didn’t like not being able to look over everyone’s shoulders so convinced management it was safe, but the others is simply cos the staff needed to return to do in person training with new starters. Anyone who’s done training or given it will have different opinions but the majority will say its easier in person for both parties. In my old company WFH was allowed after a year with the company and usually involved doing it every Friday and Monday and then in the office Tuesday to Thursday, which I liked. Some will want to do WFH all the time but for me who doesn’t have the space for a permanent office will be nice to have the choice or balance for half and half working between the office and home
@Tarraing Mo Liathróidí: yeah I’m back since August last year and I’m sure a lot more are too even when we could easily work from home.
@chiqey: ya it amazes me how some think just cos these places are told to work from home, many will stick to it. Once companies can find ways round or deem it essential, people will not have a choice in cases despite all the fanfare from the media and government, promoting the whole WFH gig. Simple fact is some will get a choice to WFH, but plenty will be brought back and very little choice will be given since there is no real laws protecting staff, if companies bringing staff back to an office is deemed essential. And you will hardly go complaining to authorities about this if ya wanna keep your job as one of my friends was told when she was made go back to the office
Im starting a new job today where i have to go in. I’ve been working from home for over a year and my nerves are shot. In saying that..be nice to have someone other then the dog to talk to all day.
@Trish O’Leary-Dunne: best of luck in the new job
@Trish O’Leary-Dunne: poor dog will be lonely having gotten used to your company
I’ve just started a new job remotely and it’s very challenging. I’m looking forward to going back to the office, at least part-time.
Did the same 6 months ago. Absolute disaster. You don’t meet your colleagues or clients except virtually.
The tax system will have to change to suit remote/home workers also. Can we have this debate?
What would you change?
@Liam Collins:
Working from home, abroad.
Would you think it would lead to massive outsourcing of jobs.
Also lot of jobs salary are based on cost of living in your area.if working in area where cost of living is lower should a salary show this.
And who exactly is pushing for this?
Pension funds and small enterprises will not want people WFH – they will be in the ear of all ministers
have your say