Do Bacteria Cause Itchiness? Microbial Minutes
Scientists are gaining insights into the microbial underpinnings of itchiness, and how scratching influences host defenses.
What's Hot in the Microbial Sciences?
Feeling itchy? From bug bites to dryness, lots of things cause itchy skin. Recent research suggests the microbes on our skin may also play a role, highlighting an interplay between microbes—particularly the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus—and the itch-scratch cycle that could be useful for developing tactics to keep itch at bay. Key takeaways and sources used in this Microbial Minutes are listed below.Key Take-Aways
- The itch sensation involves specialized nerve cells (pruriceptors) and a complex interplay between the nervous and immune systems.
- Skin microbes, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, can trigger itch. S. aureus produces a protease (V8) that activates itch receptors on nerve cells.
- Scratching is not always beneficial. While scratching can help remove irritants, it can also worsen inflammation and perpetuate the itch-scratch cycle.
- Scratching can alter the composition of the skin microbiome, potentially reducing the abundance of certain bacteria, including S. aureus. This indicates there may be an antibacterial function of scratching.
- Targeting the interplay between microbes and the itch-scratch cycle could lead to new therapies. This could manipulating the skin microbiome through probiotics, prebiotics or even transplants.
Sources
The Studies
- Deng L, et al. S. aureus drives itch and scratch-induced skin damage through a V8 protease-PAR1 axis. .
- Lieu AW, et al. Scratching promotes allergic inflammation and host defense via neurogenic mast cell activation. .
Additional Resources
- Kim HS and Yosipovitch G, et al. The Skin Microbiota and Itch: Is There a Link? .
- Cevikbas F and Lerner EA, et al. Physiology and Pathophysiology of Itch.
- Sitaraman S. Why Do We Scratch an Itch? .
- Rinaldi G. The Itch-Scratch Cycle: A Review of the Mechanisms. .
- National Eczema Association. Atopic Dermatitis. .
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