General Question

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

How come when we scratch to relieve an itchy spot on our bodies, another itch appears in a different area nearby?

Asked by MRSHINYSHOES (14001points) September 25th, 2011

When you get an itch on your back, and you scratch it to relieve the itch, do you notice how the “relieved itch” is immediately replaced by another itch somewhere else on your back? It not only happens with itches on your back, but elsewhere too, for example, your leg. What causes this phenomenon?

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5 Answers

dreamwolf's avatar

histamine receptors become activated, to me its a natural reaction for your body to be all, “oh hey lets scratch off the dirts in the pores or something” thats my unscientific research for you :D

dreamwolf (3163points)“Great Answer” (2points) Flag as…
MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

It’s like a chain reaction.

MRSHINYSHOES (14001points)“Great Answer” (1points) Flag as…
Response moderated
XD's avatar

The Itch that can be scratched is not the eternal Itch.

XD (1524points)“Great Answer” (1points) Flag as…
gailcalled's avatar

When Alice Roosevelt Longworth (daughter of Teddy) was asked how she was able to live so long (died at 96), she is purported to have said, “Fill what’s empty, empty what’s full and scratch what itches.”

My itches generally stay in one spot.

gailcalled (54647points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…

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