If you scratch itchy dry skin, it gets itchier.

In winter, scratching a dry, itchy body can sometimes make the itching worse. Why does it itch more the more you scratch? It is related to serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain.

When external stimuli come into contact with the skin, itching is felt as a reaction. At this time, the body perceives the skin irritation caused by scratching as subtle pain. When this pain is transmitted to the brain, the brain releases serotonin, which improves mood, in order to forget the pain.

Serotonin tends to activate nerve cells (neurons) that transmit the sensation of itching to the brain. As serotonin is secreted, nerve cells become activated, making them more sensitive to itching and causing one to scratch their body even more.

According to research from Washington University School of Medicine in the U.S., mice with the serotonin-secreting gene removed did not scratch their bodies much even when injected with itching-inducing substances, but were found to scratch continuously when serotonin was injected.

The exact mechanism by which serotonin activates itch-transmitting neurons has not yet been precisely elucidated. However, it is generally accepted that serotonin secretion is closely related to itching.

Furthermore, continuously scratching the skin damages its outermost barrier due to physical friction. This makes the skin more vulnerable to external irritants, leading to increased sensitivity to itching. Applying moisturizer frequently instead of scratching can help reduce itching.

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I thought it was a little ticklish.

scratched

Cases where it keeps getting scratched

I have one.

It seems like it's especially bad on the back.

Itching on dry days

It is getting worse.