from the research-that-just-scratches-the-surface dept.
Submitted via IRC for Bytram
For some people, particularly those who are elderly, even a light touch of the skin or contact with clothing can lead to unbearable itching. What's worse, anti-itch treatments, including hydrocortisone, don't provide much relief for this type of itching.
Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis have discovered, in mice, why a touch can cause such severe itching and, in the process, identified some possible therapeutic targets.
Their research, published May 4 in the journal Science, indicates that itching caused by touch is directly related to the number of touch receptors embedded in the skin. The fewer the receptors, the more likely it is that touching will induce itching.
Source: https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/when-light-touches-of-the-skin-cause-itching/
Jing Feng, Jialie Luo, Pu Yang, Junhui Du, Brian S. Kim, Hongzhen Hu. Piezo2 channel–Merkel cell signaling modulates the conversion of touch to itch. Science, 2018; 360 (6388): 530 DOI: 10.1126/science.aar5703
(Score: 3, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday May 18 2018, @07:35PM (3 children)
Because depakote caused severe chronic itching. I changed to Trileptal for both mania and seizures. The itching wasn't as severe but persisted for a few years
Bonita said I looked like I had lice
Steroid creams don't help not even a little bit
The itching is finally starting to subside. I don't bleed much anymore
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 18 2018, @07:48PM (1 child)
What a beautiful day. The man, Winkelham, who was merely an observer, truly thought this to be so. Yes, Winkelham was but an observer; since he was a mere perspective, he could not affect anything with his actions. And so, he continued to observe his surroundings. Then, Winkelham spotted a small girl, and moved closer so that he could observe her in more detail.
Intense. Winkelham's gaze was truly intense. The man observed the little girl with every fiber of his being, and then observed her some more. More. More. More! Winkelham couldn't get enough of it, so he used True Observation to observe every aspect of her being. That did it.
Winkelham, who had finished observing the little girl, returned to his former spot in the park to continue watching his surroundings. The man's gaze did not once return to the naked, violated corpse of the little girl, who was no longer even worthy of it...
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday May 18 2018, @09:15PM
You haven't lived until you've published your fiction at Kr5ddit [kr5ddit.com]
The site's headline makes it seem as if you need to pay to join or post. That's what I thought at first. But no if you slip the sysadmin a few Satoshi's help bump up amount of mods you can give.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 19 2018, @05:25AM
Have you tried unfiltered hemp seed oil? On the skin to relieve itching.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by bob_super on Friday May 18 2018, @08:49PM (1 child)
I'm sure the new head of the CIA will be glad to weaponize it: "I said I was not going to restart torturing, and a restrained detainee constantly itching is not technically in pain, senators. Anyone else with questions on the budget appropriation of more anthills?"
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 19 2018, @05:55AM
USA military studied a "gay bomb", why not an "itch bomb"?