Science explains that scratching bug bites and rashes increases itching
Scratching a bug bite or rash is commonly advised against because it worsens the itch, and this pattern is observed across multiple species.
You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. You scratched that bug bite and now it's a bigger, itchier bump. Experts say scratching a bug bite prevents itching from stopping. Science explains that scratching bug bites and rashes increases itching. According to abcnews.com, researchers better understand why even a mildly annoying itch could put you on an itch-and-scratch cycle if you give in. A good scratch at least at first brings a sigh of relief. Even fish scratch. The commonality of scratching across species suggests there must be some evolutionary reason. Mouse experiments suggest scratching may have a germ-protection function, but it is still not advisable.
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