Why is it that an itch is relieved by scratching and what causes it?
604016
an itch is caused by an inflammation or irritation of the skin...\nwhich is generally due to some skin disease etc..
86527
No one really knows exactly why people itch in general, actually.  Some people believe itching is a sensation caused by the aggravation of terminal nerve endings, and a response somewhere between no pain and pain.  This is related to chicken pox because most scientists believe that the Varicella-Zoster virus eventually makes its way into the nerves in the skin.  Since the body is trying to fight the virus, chemicals and fluids are sent to the site of infection that cause intense itching (pruritus).  This would explain why it itches even more when the blisters (or vesicles) break, releasing fluid from the blister.  It's in these blisters that chemicals called histamines may be released onto the skin, causing you to feel itchy.
754299
An itch is caused by an irritation on the skin.\nA yawn is caused by tiredness.
997123
There are many things that can cause itching.  If you live in the south and ramble in the woods or in tall grass, it could be chiggers....a minute little bug that gets on you and bites.  Or one of the poisons...ivy,ect.\n\nIf you have been to a hotel you could have gotten bed bugs.\n\nI would suggest that you and your father see a dermatologist.  This is a skin doctor and help is there!  If the itching is severe, creams with benedryl in them help and so do the benedryl pills.  Just until you can get to a dermatologist!
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)
341987
an itch is somewhere in your body that you want to scratch really very much. Itching can be caused due to allergy to certain types of foods, medicine, moquitoes, sunlight or warm weather in general.
768994
when a bug bites you it injects a bit of its saliva and sometimes poison into your skin which causes itchyness so when you scratch any itch it feels better but try not to, it will keep the wound from healing because itching also means its healing and if you keep any wound open it is vulnerable to bacterias and infection.
990872
the testicles go up and down independently, it's a self regulating organ for producing sperm. You other issue is not related to the first question. Often if u took a shower or bath and do not dry properly and /or sweat accessively, the moisture allow fungus to grow. and causes itchiness and soreness from your scratching due to tear. It's call jock itch.....go to nearest drug store they are cream, spray or powder available. if not sure ask a pharmacist for reccommedation. Make sure you dry your groin area well before apply and try to keep it dry at all time...
610830
the reason our skin itch sometimes is due to the effect of our own body immune system against antigen (foreign body not recognize by our immune system). \nWhen antigen enters our body through skin, it is detected by Langerhans cells beneath our skin and triggers our immune system to release histamine to eradicate the antigen, and the histamine secretion is the reason why our skin feel itch sometime.
1071109
You get an itch because there is an excess of dry dead skin and you scratching is your body's way of shedding and getting that dead skin off so the new skin can breathe
650453
The oil that naturally comes from skin is disrupted in a scar or keloids. So it dries out and itches.
149285
Could be one of a few things or a combination of things:\n\n1.) The hair is growing back. The skin is very sensitive in that region and the hair growing back could cause itching.\n\n2. You may have extra sensitive skin down there and the products you use are irritating it.
124838
I think it could be a mental thing.  I do the same thing.  It's like I have to scratch in so many different places (mind you I actually feel the itch) before I can get comfortable and fall asleep.  It's a possibility?
500486
"Itch" is usually a noun meaning a skin irritation, but can also be a verb meaning to feel, have or produce an itch.\n\n"Scratch" is both a verb meaning to abrade and a noun meaning the abrasion.\n\nWith that being said, in your case, you would be scratching an itch.  \n\nBut you can also itch an itch, itch a scratch, or even scratch a scratch.  They would all mean something different though.
808554
The central chemical involved in itching is histamine, a molecule released by mast cells in the skin. Histamine is the chemical that causes the itch and reddening when bitten by insects. It binds to local nerve endings on specific receptors.  An itch from cutaneous (skin-related) stimuli, such as movement of small hairs on the body, is transmitted along the same pathway as pain. An itch caused by histamine is transmitted to the brain by a different neural pathway.  As with pain, a histamine-induced itch travels via the spinothalamic tract, but in fibres specific for itch.
222773
Most itchy skin (without any rashes, bumps or lesions) is caused simply by dryness.  If you don't already, use a moisturizer daily.  If you do and are still dry, find a different moisturizer.  If the dryness continues to be a problem, see a doctor to rule out illness and a dermatologist for some prescription moisturizer.
539379
Scratching causes another counter irritation and the brain gets distracted. Chk out the  link\n\nhttp://www.ratlab.co.uk/itch.htm