The Science of the Itch – Expert Commentary
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Daily Use Itchy SkinThe endless cycle of itching and scratching is a frustrating one. While we all experience it from time to time, for some, it’s a constant battle. In our ongoing series, we’re tackling common skin concerns with expert commentary from Amit Saha, Registered Pharmacist and Head of Technical & Innovation at Dermal Therapy.
Key Takeaways
- A Unique Sensation: Your skin is the only part of your body that can feel both pain and itch, making the sensation of itch uniquely tied to your skin’s nerves.
- The Scratch-Itch Cycle: While scratching provides temporary relief by distracting your brain with mild pain, it’s not a long-term solution and can make the itch worse.
Treat the Cause: Long-term relief comes from identifying and treating the root cause of the itch with the right treatments and self-care.
You can feel pain in your muscles, joints, and other internal organs, but your skin is the only part of your body that can feel both pain and itch. This feeling of itch is a unique sensation. An itch can be triggered by something outside your body, such as dryness, or by something happening inside, such as eczema, psoriasis, or allergies.
Find more specialist skincare advice and support in our article: What’s the Difference Between Eczema vs Psoriasis.
Although it feels good in the moment, scratching actually triggers a mild pain sensation on your skin. This feeling of pain distracts your brain from feeling the itch. However, it is only a temporary solution, and one in five people say scratching actually makes them itch somewhere else on their body.
Depending on the cause of your itchiness, your skin may appear normal, red, rough, or bumpy. Repeated scratching can cause raised, thick areas of skin that might bleed or become infected. While self-care measures such as moisturising daily, using gentle cleansers, and bathing with lukewarm water can provide some degree of relief, long-term relief requires identifying and treating the root cause of the itch. Common treatments include medicated creams, moist dressings, and oral anti-itch medicines.
Dermal Therapy Anti-Itch Soothing Cream
Relieve itchy skin fast with Dermal Therapy Anti-Itch Soothing Cream. Clinically tested to relieve itch in just minutes, using a unique blend of natural ingredients designed to calm and soothe.
- Unique 3-Way Action: A unique blend of natural ingredients that provides a three-pronged approach to soothing itchy skin.
- Fast-Acting Relief: Clinically tested to calm, relieve, and soothe dry skin on contact.
- Gentle Formula: An SLS and paraben-free blend that is suitable for even sensitive skin.
- Natural Ingredients: Enriched with Colloidal Oatmeal, Canadian Willowherb, and Menthol to calm, soothe, and reduce redness.
FAQs for The Science of the Itch
Scratching provides temporary relief from itching by triggering a mild pain sensation that distracts your brain. However, it’s not a long-term solution and can damage the skin.
Itchy skin can be caused by external factors like dryness or internal conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or allergies.
Yes, repeated scratching can cause skin to become thick, rough, or even bleed, increasing the risk of infection.
Long-term relief requires treating the root cause of the itch. This can include using medicated creams, gentle cleansers, and moisturisers, or other treatments recommended by a medical professional.
