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Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science explains ... You scratched that bug bite and now it's a big itchier bump WASHINGTON --You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad? A lot of things can cause itchiness,sometimes serious diseases. Whatever the cause, doctors have long warned that scratching too much can damagethe skin. Now researchers better understand why even a mildly annoying itch could put you on an itch-and-scratch cycle if you give in. How did they find out? In part by putting tiny “cones of shame” onto mice to uncover what happenson a cellular levelwhen an itch gets scratched — or left alone. They also gained insight into why a good scratch at least at first brings a sigh of relief. After all, not just people and other mammals scratch, even fish do. The commonality suggests there must be some evolutionary reason and the mouse experiment hints at a little germ protection — but still not a reason to scratch. Dr. Daniel Kaplan, a University of Pittsburgh dermatologist whose lab studies immune reactions in skin, was exploring a run-of-the-mill …

Your bug bite won’t stop itching once you start scratching: Experts You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad? A lot of things can cause itc...

Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science explains ... Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science explains why it's a bad idea by Lauran Neergaard edited by Andrew Zinin Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked reputable news agency proofread The GIST Add as preferred source A mosquito feeds on a technician at the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District on July 26, 2023, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File You've likely heard it since childhood: Don't scratch that bug bite or rash, you'll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad? A lot of things can cause itchiness, sometimes serious diseases. Whatever the cause, doctors have long warned that scratching too much can damage the skin. Now researchers better understand why even a mildly annoying itch could put you on an itch-and-scratch cycle if you give in. How did they find out? In part by putting tiny "cones of shame" onto mice to uncover what happens on a cellular leve…

Scratching an itch has both good effects and bad Share this: Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share to Google Classroom (Opens in new window) Google Classroom Print (Opens in new window) Print By Laura Sanders April 16, 2025 at 6:30 am Don’t scratch that mosquito bite! Chances are you’ve heard this advice before — and had a hard time following it. So you may already know that scratching can feel good at the time, but may not help in the long run. A study in mice finds that scratching can have both positive and negative effects . Researchers shared these findings January 31 in Science . First, the bad news. Scratching itchy ears triggered inflammation . That’s a local immune response that causes redness — and more itching. An itch can begin when a substance (such as an oil in poison ivy ) activates mast cells. These immune cells release itch signals and kick off inflammation. Scratching boosts that process, the new study suggests. “The act of scratching is actually triggering the inflammation b…

How to Get Bug Bites to Stop Itching (with Pictures) - wikiHow Last Updated: February 19, 2026References This article was co-authored byChris M. Matsko, MD. Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.There are10 referencescited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.This article has been viewed 159,594 times. Bug bites are really aggravating. Depending on what bit you, the bite might be red, swollen, itchy, or sting. You might realize you were bitten at the moment when it happened, or you might not discover the bite until hours later. With proper care, most bites are nothing more than an annoyance. Medical Disclaimer The content of this article is not intended to b…

How to Stop Bug Bites From Itching - 16 Ways to Soothe Itchy Bites We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.Why Trust Us? You can use all theinsect repellentsand try every method forpreventing bug bitesand still occasionally find a mystery welt or two—especially during summer. At that point, you’re forced to treat the lingering symptoms—and whether you’re dealing with atick bite,spider bite, or amosquito bite, you probably have the urge to scratch it. So, you find yourself needing to know how to stop bug bites from itching—and fast. Luckily, there are a number of ways to mitigate the itch, and even methods to prevent bites in the first place. Meet the experts:Sarah Jackson, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Louisiana State University; andMarisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York Ahead, experts explain everything you need to know about bug bite treatments, prevention, and when to see a doctor for more troublesome sores. When a bugger sticks its landing, a mixture of saliva (and sometimes venom) enters your skin at the puncture mark. Yourimmune sy…

How to Stop Bug Bites from Itching | ColumbiaDoctors Itching, stinging, and swelling really take the fun out of being outdoors and opening windows in the summer. Most bug bites (usually from mosquitoes) stop itching after a day or two. Others can leave you or your child with bacterial infections, parasites, or viruses. “During the summer we provide insects more opportunity to bite," says pediatric allergist and immunologistJoel Brooks, MPH, DO, “and the number of reported cases of disease from mosquito, tick, and flea bites has more than tripled in recent years according to the CDC.” Most bug bites do not cause problems and will resolve on their own, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to avoid them. Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas cause the most bug bites—and carry diseases like West Nile and Lyme disease, which can be serious—so it’s worth trying to avoid bug bites as much as possible. We asked Brooks to tell us everything we should know about bugs and their bites. When bugs bite, they inject saliva, triggering your body to react. Your immune system fights substances in the bug saliva with a variety of mediators, such as histamine, which causes swelling, inflammation, and i…

Why scratching bug bites and rashes makes itching worse, according to science <p>You scratched that bug bite and now it's a big itchier bump</p>

Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science explains ... You scratched that bug bite and now it’s a big itchier bump. WASHINGTON (AP) — You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad? A lot of things can cause itchiness, sometimes serious diseases . Whatever the cause, doctors have long warned that scratching too much can damage the skin . Now researchers better understand why even a mildly annoying itch could put you on an itch-and-scratch cycle if you give in. How did they find out? In part by putting tiny “cones of shame” onto mice to uncover what happens on a cellular level when an itch gets scratched — or left alone. They also gained insight into why a good scratch at least at first brings a sigh of relief. After all, not just people and other mammals scratch, even fish do. The commonality suggests there must be some evolutionary reason and the mouse experiment hints at a little germ protection — but still not a reason to scratch. Expect a more swollen, itchier spot if you can’t ignore that bug bite Dr. Daniel Kaplan, a University of Pittsburgh dermatologist…