The itchy scalp--scratching for an explanation
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Updated: May 27, 2026

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
Published on: September 27, 2019
Ghada A Bin Saif1, Marna E Ericson, Gil Yosipovitch
1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Scalp pruritus is a common complaint that is considered a diagnostically and therapeutically challenging situation. Scalp skin has a unique neural structure that contains densely innervated hair follicles and dermal vasculature. In spite of the recent advances in our understanding of itch pathophysiology, scalp itching has not been studied as yet. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the neurobiology of scalp and hair follicles as well as itch mediators and provide a putative mechanism for scalp itch with special emphasis on neuroanatomy and pathophysiology.
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