[SKIN TRUTH] Let’s break the habit of scratching our skin

Our skin acts as the outermost protective barrier between our internal bodies and the outside world. This skin tissue always holds risk of irritation from contact with countless substances in the external environment and usually becomes itchy on a daily basis for one reason or another. It’s usually not harmful to scratch your skin, but the problem arises when the scratching becomes so severe or repetitive that it aggravates the skin. This is usually caused by persistent external stimuli such as insect bites, dust, clothes and hair, allergic reactions, various skin diseases and infections, and severe stress.

In particular, conditions prone to becoming chronic due to a lack of proper treatment— such as  atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and follicle infection—all cause itching. This itch, medically called 'sophobia', acts as an initial warning for the human defense system, a first response at an approaching irritation. When we get this signal of an itch, our first reaction is to scratch the spot. This reaction is a reflex to remove the stimulated substance. But according to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota, scratching stops the activity of the central nerves that transmit the existence of this itch—this warning signal— to the brain.

A further problem is that we often scratch these itches with our nails. Whether the irritation is removed or not our nails aggravate our skin and even if we think the itch has been temporarily relieved, the aggravation from our nails will cause further irritation, thus prompting a continuous cycle of scratching.

For instance, in the case of atopic dermatitis, if the condition is exacerbated to the point that you fall into this cycle of itching-scratching, you will break down your skin barrier, causing more inflammation, and leading to both secondary infections and skin thickening. For atopic dermatitis patients, even just abstaining from scratching can significantly alleviate symptoms. However, the problem is that the itchiness of atopic dermatitis is often intolerable and even if patients have the will to abstain from scratching during the day, they will inevitably scratch the irritated areas unconsciously at night. The reality is that at our current state of progress in medicine, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of most dermatitis cases so it’s difficult to treat the root of the infection. Most medical treatments and self-care solutions focus on relieving symptoms instead.

If you find a treatment method that relieves the feeling of itchiness, you’re already halfway to recovery. Whether it is strengthening the skin barrier with non-stimulating cleansing and moisturizing, or using medical solutions like steroids or antihistamine drugs, or applying products containing sedative ingredients like Maroni seed extract, if you take the time to test what treatments work for your skin, you’ll be able to escape the cycle of scratching and aggravating your skin.