ArticleDermatology practical & conceptual2019
The Itch-Scratch Cycle: A Review of the Mechanisms.
Article in Dermatology practical & conceptual, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Eczema Management Program for Children With Eczema: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2025Trial
- Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Adjunctive 0.015% Triamcinolone Acetonide Topical Spray With Lokivetmab Versus Lokivetmab Monotherapy as 'Reactive Therapy' for Canine Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomised, Single-Blinded, Controlled Preliminary Trial.Veterinary dermatology · 2026Article
- Intermittent short-term low dose cyclosporine may help break the itch-scratch cycle in uremic pruritus: A retrospective study.JAAD international · 2026Article
- Translational Assessment of a Cell-Penetrating Peptide Topical Formulation for Repairing Barrier Dysfunction in Human Skin.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Comprehensive Transcriptomic Profiling of Nonatopic Prurigo Nodularis in Korean Patients Reveals Il-22-driven Epidermal Stress and Neuro-immuno-fibrotic Remodelling.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2026Article
- Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in CKD-Associated Pruritus: A Systematic Review.Kidney medicine · 2025Review
- Development of Objective Measurements of Scratching as a Proxy of Atopic Dermatitis-A Review.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Anti-inflammatory and renoprotective effects of difelikefalin, a kappa opioid receptor agonist, in a rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury.BMC nephrology · 2025Article
- A Study on Scratching Behavior Characteristics in Patients With Various Types of Chronic Pruritus.Allergy, asthma & immunology research · 2025Article
- A patient-centred conceptual model of nocturnal scratch and its impact in atopic dermatitis: A mixed-methods study supporting the development of novel digital measurements.Skin health and disease · 2023Article
- Efficacy of the Radical Scavenger, Tempol, to Reduce Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in a Murine Model of Atopic Dermatitis.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Establishment of an Intradermal Canine IL-31-Induced Pruritus Model to Evaluate Therapeutic Candidates in Atopic Dermatitis.Veterinary sciences · 2023Article
- Defining the Digital Measurement of Scratching During Sleep or Nocturnal Scratching: Review of the Literature.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Review
- EYERUBBICS: The Eye Rubbing Cycle Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
- Scratching increases epidermal neuronal branching and alters psychophysical testing responses in atopic dermatitis and brachioradial pruritus.Frontiers in molecular neuroscience · 2023Article
- Study of the Involvement of the P2Y12 Receptor in Chronic Itching in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Molecular neurobiology · 2022Article
- Antipruritic Effects of Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists: Evidence from Rodents to Humans.Handbook of experimental pharmacology · 2022Article
- The Role of a Novel Generation of Emollients, 'Emollients Plus', in Atopic Dermatitis.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2022Review
- Pruritus in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis: current treatments and new perspectives.Pharmacological reports : PR · 2021Review
- Derma-Hc, a New Developed Herbal Formula, Ameliorates Cutaneous Lichenification in Atopic Dermatitis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite being one of the most common presenting dermatological symptoms, itching continues to perplex health care professionals because it is notoriously difficult to control.
objectiveThis review gathers evidence to answer the 2-part question, "Why do we itch and scratch?" by exploring the history of itchy disease, the neurobiology of itch, and the 4 different clinical origins of itch: pruritogenic, neurological, neuropathic, and psychological.
resultsThe automated scratching reflex and its biological and psychological reasons for existence are complicated and poorly understood. Currently, there are a myriad of treatments available for individuals suffering from this condition; however, many remain symptomatic.
conclusionsThe itch-scratch cycle is a complex pain-like sensation with a reflex-like response. In the future, continued exploration into the mechanisms behind itch and scratch may open the doors for new therapeutic interventions.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.