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As anyone who has ever sat in a patch of poison ivy can attest to, the relief from a bad itch can be one of the best feelings in the world. It is pure bliss.
Now, new research in Science Immunology has revealed a number of new promising avenues for bringing succor to people suffering from various conditions that cause unending itchiness.
More debilitating than chronic pain
A chronic itch, defined as an itch that lasts six weeks or more, reported the BBC, can be more debilitating than chronic pain. While chronic pain still allows sufferers to eventually get some rest, chronic itch often keeps people from sleeping. It is a feature of a number of conditions, including but not limited to, eczema, psoriasis, chronic kidney disease, liver failure, and more.
Unfortunately, while antihistamines can often bring relief to acute itching, currently there is no treatment for chronic itch. But that may soon change.
An itch receptor
In order to understand why a treatment for chronic itch has been so long in coming, one must first understand the history of the itch. At first, it was thought to be just a less extreme type of pain. But in 2007, researchers discovered a designated itch receptor. Meaning, there are a set of nerves on the spinal column whose job it is to transmit itchiness to the brain. Which is to say, an itch is, biologically speaking, distinct from pain.
Since then, there has been more and more research done on these neurotransmitters and the molecules that bind to them, causing itch, in the hope that these will lead to treatments that can alleviate chronic itch.
Still, chronic itch is not the only source of itchiness. Allergic reactions also cause itch, often very severe itch.
According to a University of Pittsburgh press release,a lot of these types of reactions involve a type of cell called a mast cell. These cells contain histamines that in most cases are vital for protecting the body against infection, bee stings, snake venom and other such things. However, in the case of an allergy, the mast cells release histamines when there is no threat, causing an allergic reaction.
This has led researchers to try and figure out how mast cells can be suppressed in time when they are not needed. A December, 2024 study in Science Translational Medicine found that there are neurotransmitters in the skin called glutamates which suppress mast cells. And so, the obvious step was to create a cream that activates glutamates, thus leading them to quell the mast cells. The hope is that these types of creams could become a preventative treatment for skin conditions like rosacea and others.
Despite what the existence of itch powder may imply, itchiness can be a serious matter. That is why the studies discussed are literally such a relief. Here’s hoping the path from research to market is short and we will all be able to enjoy the benefit of an itchless existence.
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