Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science says it’s a bad idea
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Health
Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science says it’s a bad idea
By Associated Press Published June 30, 2026, 5:11 p.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on GoogleWASHINGTON — You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad?
A lot of things can cause itchiness, sometimes serious diseases. Whatever the cause, doctors have long warned that scratching too much can damage the skin. Now researchers better understand why even a mildly annoying itch could put you on an itch-and-scratch cycle if you give in.
How did they find out? In part by putting tiny “cones of shame” onto mice to uncover what happens on a cellular level when an itch gets scratched — or left alone.
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They also gained insight into why a good scratch, at least at first, brings a sigh of relief. After all, not just people and other mammals scratch, even fish do. The commonality suggests there must be some evolutionary reason, and the mouse experiment hints at a little germ protection — but still not a reason to scratch.
Expect a more swollen, itchier spot if you can’t ignore that bug bite
Dr. Daniel Kaplan, a University of Pittsburgh dermatologist whose lab studies immune reactions in skin, was exploring a run-of-the-mill type of itch called allergic contact dermatitis, caused by irritants such as poison ivy or nickel in jewelry.
Kaplan’s research team put a rash-inducing irritant on the ears of mice. Normal mice scratched and inflammatory immune cells rushed to the site, increasing swelling. The rash was much milder in mice bred with defective itch-sensing nerve cells. But was the difference really the scratching?
Normal mice put into collars like those veterinary “cones of shame,” so they itched but couldn’t scratch, gave the answer: They, too, had much less swelling and fewer inflammatory cells.
Kaplan said that evidence matches people’s everyday experiences that scratching really can make things worse.
Ignore a mosquito bite and the itch is “gone in five or 10 minutes for most people,” he said. “But if you start scratching it, it’s your friend for a week,” getting itchier and more inflamed.
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Collin Gosselin’s Abuse Claims Against Mom Kate, Sara Foster’s Living Situation and More Top Stories
Get a rundown of Us Weekly‘s top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on June 30, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:
• Collin Gosselin doubled down on abuse claims against mom Kate Gosselin, sharing on Instagram that she allegedly wrote in her diary about praying to God to stop hitting him when he was 2. His memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, is set for release on October 13.
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Deal Alert! This 44%-Off Throw-On Mini Dress Is Too Good to Leave in Your Cart View Deal• Sara Foster revealed that she and ex Tommy Haas are still living together nearly two years after their August 2024 split. Speaking on Kristin Cavallari‘s “Let’s Be Honest” podcast, Foster pointed to the retired tennis player’s frequent travel and said they share daily meals with their two daughters when he’s in town.
• Kathie Lee Gifford said she isn’t dating and doesn’t plan to remarry more than a decade after the August 2015 death of husband Frank Gifford. The former Today host told People that Frank “will always be the love of my life” but added she remains open if “God wants to do something miraculous.”
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Celebrities Are Seeing Red Every Season: Coco Jones, Kehlani, Teyana Taylor and More
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Red is our forever color crush — and fan-favorite stars including Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Nicole Kidman and more all seem to agree.
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Deal Alert! This 44%-Off Throw-On Mini Dress Is Too Good to Leave in Your Cart View DealJenner was a vision at the 3rd annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on December 3, gracing the event’s red carpet in a figure-flattering Fendi gown. The crimson design featured a turtleneck and a corset bodice — adorned with a ribbon at the waist — that fell into a billowing skirt. The lively hue perfectly complemented Jenner’s rosy glam and brunette locks. Bassett also attended the event, wowing Us in a cherry-colored Schiaparelli gown that was completed with a caped hood.
Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt also turned up the heat in bold shades of red while posing on the Devil Wears Prada 2 press tour in April 2026.
Keep scrolling to see the best-dressed stars in red to date:
Credit: Getty Images(3)
Celebrities Are Seeing Red Every Season: Coco Jones, Kehlani, Teyana Taylor and More
Red is our forever color crush — and fan-favorite stars including Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Nicole Kidman and more all seem to agree.
Jenner was a vision at the 3rd annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on December 3, gracing the event’s red carpet in a figure-flattering Fendi gown. The crimson design featured a turtleneck and a corset bodice — adorned with a ribbon at the waist — that fell into a billowing skirt. The lively hue perfectly complemented Jenner’s rosy glam and brunette locks. Bassett also attended the event, wowing Us in a cherry-colored Schiaparelli gown that was completed with a caped hood.
Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt also turned up the heat in bold shades of red while posing on the Devil Wears Prada 2 press tour in April 2026.
Keep scrolling to see the best-dressed stars in red to date:
Credit: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET
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