Italian study reveals that treatment of itchy skin by light

Soon, millions of irritating itchy people will get rid of their problem by dealing with "lightening" of the affected skin, according to Italian scientists.

In a report published in the Daily Mail newspaper, tests on mice showed that the rate of itching and splitting of the skin decreased significantly after treatment.

Researchers have developed a chemical called IL31-IR700, which is sensitive to light and badociated with itchy sensory cells on the surface of the skin. They injected the substance into the skin of the mouse, when an infrared light was directed to the area of ​​skin treated with the itching substance on the surface of the skin.

These results, described as "surprising", give new hope to people suffering from chronic skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.

Dr. Paul Hibenstol, co-author of the study at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Rome, said that infrared radiation activated light-sensitive particles that destroyed everything in the vicinity.

As a result, when the light-sensitive particles are on the surface of the itchy neurons, their ends are cut off so that they can not scratch.

The procedure is called light therapy and was developed primarily to kill cancer cells. According to Hepinstol, who applies it very directly to the skin can eliminate nerve cells responsible for itching.

The research team, led by Dr. Linda Nukchi, found that the new treatment is beneficial to rodents with rare, untreated hereditary skin diseases, such as amyloidosis, which affects other body organs such as the heart. , kidneys and liver.

The effects of light therapy on the itching have been sustained for several months, which means that this solution may be an appropriate long-term solution for people with treatment difficulties.

Researchers need more tests to confirm the long-term effects of this treatment. This treatment will not be available at least 10 years ago.

Globally, 20% of children and up to 3% of adults have eczema.