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Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
Published on: September 27, 2019
Pruritus: an overview. What drives people to scratch an itch?
Michael Joseph Lavery1, Michael Owen Kinney2, Hideki Mochizuki1
1Department of Dermatology/Temple Itch Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, 3322 North Broad Street - Suite 212, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
Abstract:
Pruritus is a common complaint associated with many conditions. It negatively impacts sleep, quality of life, and mortality. Itch is transmitted along both histaminergic and non-histaminergic pathways with a complex interplay between keratinocytes, immune cells and cutaneous neurons. Individuals who present with pruritus should undergo a thorough assessment, especially those over 65 years old, to exclude underlying malignancy. Treatment no longer consists of antihistamines alone. Physicians now have an array of therapies in their armamentarium, to help alleviate this distressing symptom.
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