Nestlé Skin Health and Maruho Release Renewed Itch Measurement App 'Itch Tracker' for Apple Watch on July 5, Maruho Receives Exclusive Rights in Japan
Osaka (Japan) - Lausanne (Switzerland), July 5, 2018 - Maruho Co., Ltd. ("Maruho", Headquarters: Osaka, Japan, President and CEO: Koichi Takagi), and Nestlé Skin Health S.A. ("Nestlé Skin Health", Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland, CEO: Stuart Raetzman), announced that in April, 2018 Maruho acquired exclusive rights in Japan for itch measurement application "Itch Tracker" for Apple Watch (hereinafter referred to as "Itch Tracker"), which has been developed to collect data on scratching during sleep. The new Itch Tracker with added functions was released to the public today.
The launch of Itch Tracker is the first collaboration for innovation initiatives between Maruho's Future Design Department and Nestlé Skin Health's global network of innovation, SHIELD.
About Itch Tracker: - Measuring scratching motions during sleep and "visualizing" itch -
Itch Tracker is the first application in the world to measure and visualize itching. Nestlé Skin Health developed Itch Tracker using ResearchKit, which is an open source framework for medical research introduced by Apple. Nestlé Skin Health simultaneously launched Itch Tracker worldwide in April 2017. Wearing the Apple Watch on your arm, if you start the Itch Tracker app before you sleep, you can measure your scratching behavior during sleep and evaluate your itching objectively. Nestlé Skin Health developed Itch Tracker using ResearchKit, (an open source framework for medical research introduced by Apple), and released Itch Tracker worldwide as a clinical research project from April 2017 to May 2018.
（Screen Images from the renewed Itch Tracker）
Maruho and Nestlé Skin Health collaborated in the renewal of Itch Tracker as a general-purpose application that can be used by anyone who is troubled by itchy skin. Additions such as a check function over time, etc., were added in addition to overall improvements making Itch Tracker more user-friendly. The new Itch Tracker is released worldwide on the App Store from today (English and Japanese versions are available).
"Itch is a major symptom of common dermatological diseases such as atopic dermatitis and dry skin in elderly people. It often causes a vicious cycle of itch-scratch, where itch increases the urge to scratch while scratching damages the skin and increases the itch. This cycle significantly impairs people's quality of life. We hope that Itch Tracker makes it possible for everyone to know about their scratching, improving patient's adherence to treatment and promoting smooth communication between patients and medical staff" said Dr. Akihiko Ikoma, Dermatologist and Senior Medical Director, Maruho Future Design Department.
Maruho and Nestlé Skin Health will continue to contribute to improving people's quality of life through the development and provision of scientific solutions that are useful for skin health.
Application Information:
Name: Itch Tracker powered by SHIELD
Compatible Device: Apple Watch
Release Date: July 5, 2018
Price: Free
App Download page (iOS): https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/id1398233391?l=en