Researchers at Harvard Medical School uncover the mystery of itch. For the first time, they identify a common skin bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), as the culprit behind the irritation. The findings, reported in the journal Cell, shed light on the relationship between microbes and skin, offering new ways intherapeutic interventions for eczema and dermatitis.

Contrasting previous beliefs associating itch with skin inflammation, the research reveals S. aureus induces the urge to scratch. “We know that many microbes, including fungi, viruses and bacteria, are accompanied by itch, but how they cause itch is not clear,” says senior author Isaac Chiu, associate professor of immunology at the Blavatnik Institute at HMS.

The harmony of microorganisms on the skin, disrupted in conditions like eczema and atopic dermatitis, allows S. aureus to thrive, provoking a molecular chain reaction that leads to persistent itch.

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