Why do one start to scratch once they see someone else scratching?
351491
I never noticed this about scratching though I do know this happens about yawning.
460897
If you sleep alone and have no pets nor do you have an insect infestation, you are scratching yourself in your sleep.  It's not really to uncommon, especially if you have dry skin.  Try putting a heavy cream (not lotion) on your arms before going to bed at night to hydrate your skin.  It might itch enough that you scratch yourself without waking up.\n\nI doubt that it's demons as some people say.  Those who think that tend to be a bit, ahem, worrisome.
1129499
When you scratch your itch, you are temporarily paralyzing the sensors in your skin.
1100895
It could be a symptom of Hepatitis or something called Lichens Planus (I think I spelled that right). Make and appointment right away to see a Dermatologist so you can be properly diagnosed and hopefully get some medication to get rid of the itch. The longer you wait and the more you scratch, it could leave really bad scars that can take up to 2 years to fade away.
470939
Some people bite their nails simply as a bad habit and they have to consciously make the effort to stop.\n\nOther people, the ones who get down to bare bleeding skin, may be suffering from depression or something similar.  I used to be this person, I was biting my nails down to the nubbins to (unconciously) cause myself physical pain in order to cover up emotional pain.  After spending some time in therapy I was able to find better ways of dealing with things and now I have lovely nails!\n\nBy the way, this second example of nail chewing is a very similar behavior to people who cut or otherwise hurt themselves... the physical pain is easier to deal with than emotional pain.
449733
thats funny!! but its b/c ur own hands cant please or mess with ur senses silly. i think, i dunno. cuz u can scratch ur own itch and massage ur self i dunno maybe u can but it just aint as funny like if u PLEASE ur self it is ok but it feels better when somebody else does it. yeah  thats it
46813
maybe because they cut your skin?
402491
an itch is a misfire of a nerve ending.(i think).  its along the same lines of why you can feel like you're wiggling your toes after you have your leg amputated.(lol)
238229
Because your body is not use to too but after a while your body will get use to it then the itching will go away and its totally normal...
1066647
did you say it only hurts when someine else touches you? if so i dont know\nbut shingles can cause a similar reaction.  you should go to a doctor, never be afraid to ask them qestions
818880
Nope. Your skin starts to scratch when you are about to get stretch marks. That is because your skin is breaking/stretching and thats why u get an urge to scratch. I guess you ve been putting on weight.
914926
I think sometimes they are defensive to a point of irrationality.  My guess is that it's not  on purpose but rather it's become a habit!  I think that when you feel different you are different...usually because you want to break the patterns that annoy you about you!
1085229
If I'm in public i pretend I'm getting something out of my back pocket. I remember once i had really bad sunburn and it was really itchy and i couldn't stop scratching, It annoyed this guy so much and told me to go and worm myself. ( abit embarrassing but it made me laugh) ** discression is my middle name**
583700
This is a itchy inflammation of the skin, characterized by dry, scaly, and thickening.  Stress and tension can increase the itching.  Normally treated with corticosteroid creams and maybe anihistimines.  Sometimes your doc may even prescribe a patch with the meds in it so it decreases the scratching
1010742
When you get an itch on your tools you just have to scratch, and sometimes you have to rearrange them.  Women do not have this same problem.
213357
If the scratch is not too deep, you can use Pledge and a soft cloth to rub in the scratch. This sounds cracked, but it does work.
480117
I was told in an Anatomy and Physiology class by teacher that scratching an itch interferes with the nerve messages being sent by the itch to the brain. So temporarily you don't feel the itch. Putting ice or tolerable hot water on an itch can help similarly.