Why is it when I scratch one area on my body to relieve an itch, another area suddenly gets itchy right after?

OMG yes! I have no idea why this happens, but it seems to happen to me most when I’m trying to be still – say, at the theatre and trying not to fidget.

@papayalily Yeah, you scratch one little area to nip it in the bud, but then another itch surfaces elsewhere. I especially notice this when I try to relieve an annoying itch on my back. My upper back gets an itch, I scratch, it goes away, then somewhere down the middle of my back gets itchy. Grrr!

Whenever I scratch my boyfriend’s back he will say “Why is it I didn’t know I was itchy until you started scratching.” I think it’s your nerve endings response to the pleasurable sensation of scratching. Maybe that enjoyable feeling somehow fires off a chain reaction.

@diavolobunneh Good point. I’ve done that too. Scratch one area where there’s no itch, and it suddenly starts to itch, so you scratch it, which in return makes it itch even more. Lol.

@MRSHINYSHOES I’m a regular back scratch addict. I’d rather have my back scratched (gently) than get a massage. A good back scratch can put me straight to sleep or relax me no matter how bad my day has been. Fortunately, my boyfriend is very good about indulging me. :)

I got itchy reading this question. & I think I agree with @diavolobunneh on how it’s like a chain reaction. Really weird.

Its called a sympathy itch. its just like having an injury to your body and the muscles surrounding the injury go into sympathy with your injury.