Unraveling the Origins of Itch: Harvard Study Reveals New Culprit
TL;DR
New research suggests that a common microbe, Staphylococcus aureus, may directly cause itchiness on the skin it colonizes by releasing an enzyme that activates nerve cells and generates an itch sensation. The study found that an FDA-approved anti-clotting medication can block this itch response, potentially offering a new treatment for itchy skin conditions like eczema. The findings open up a new understanding of the role of bacteria in causing itching and may lead to more targeted treatments that do not harm beneficial bacteria on the body.
- What can trigger an itch? Scientists have found a new culprit NPR
- Harvard study may have finally solved mystery of what causes persistent itching - and one in THREE Americans h Daily Mail
- Harvard University researchers discover one of the origins of itch The Boston Globe
- Scientists raise hopes of cure for eczema itchiness with study of skin bacteria The Guardian
- New clues into the head-scratching mystery of itch Medical Xpress
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