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Itch is miserable, and scratching it can be incredibly satisfying and pleasurable. Is scratching an itch more pleasurable in some anatomic sites than in others? A team of investigators itching to find the answer conducted a study to examine the role of scratching pleasurability in itch relief.
The investigators induced itch on the forearm, back, and ankle of 18 subjects. They applied 40–45 cowhage spicules (“itch powder”) to each site, which they gently rubbed into the skin. After itch was elicited, the spicules were removed with adhesive tape. Itch intensity before scratching was assessed by each subject and rated on a visual analog scale. Trained personnel scratched the itching area with a cytology brush, applying relatively standardized p…