Validating an Itch Sensitivity Scale: Methodology and Participant Selection

To validate the itch sensitivity scale, we recruited healthy participants who completed a series of questionnaires and underwent a multimodal experimental itch test (see 2.4.1). The inclusion criteria were as follows:

1. Aged between 18 and 30 years old.2. Native Chinese speakers.3. No acute pruritus or history of allergies, chronic skin diseases (e.g., eczema, psoriasis), asthma, cardiovascular diseases, fainting/dizziness, epileptic seizures, etc.4. No injuries, frostbite, fractures, ulcers, etc., on the inside of the right forearm.5. Not currently using long-term medication and no recent surgeries within the past six months.6. Abstained from alcohol, coffee, and smoking within 24 hours prior to the test and did not take any medication.7. Female participants were not in their menstrual, pregnant, or lactating phases.

These criteria ensured the selection of a healthy participant pool, minimizing potential confounding factors that could influence itch perception and scale validation.