Why does an itch stop when you scratch it, and how do we know that scratching it will stop it?

Answer:
i'm not sure but i love a good scratch

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When the skin cell falls off

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i dont know but calamine lotion works good.

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your brain tells you to scratch before you realize you're doing it

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i think it just numbens the area for a while. but it's bad to scratch in the long-run because it spreads rash and germs.

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It's just an instinct, basically. Scratching will only stop it depending on how bad it is and what the cause is. If there is dead skin causing it, scratching will remove the dead skin, and the itch will stop.

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An itch happens through your nerve endings in your skin. When you scratch you destroy the nerve endings and brings relief.

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what i lame question.

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well when anything happens to your body it sends a message to your brain, scratching it is just simply your bodys reaction to it. you are thinking too hard dont expect a long answer explaining every step your body takes its just as simple as that.

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lol. I was scratching the side of my face trying to think of an answer. I must need to shave.Edit: Sometimes your brain or reflex reaction says don't scratch, knock it off, like when a bee or wasp lands on your arm.

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An itch is just a small irritation- think of it as a small version of, say, a branch that brushes your arm. Your brain senses it as being a foreign force or object causing the irritation, and tells your hand to scratch it, causing whatever that object is to go way, be it a bug,a leaf, etc.By scratching it with your nails, you're really actually replacing the small irritation sensation with a feeling from your nails somewhat like pain. This overrides and overwhelms the itch/irritation.

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i got to say this is one of the best questions that anyone has asked.im baffled, i guess the following may explain itscratching to an allergic response is caused by inflamation which causes blood vessels to dilate at the site and release substances that causes itchyness,which is probably designed so that u itch it and mechanically remove the allergen that causes the itchyness, such as from certain leaves. Im guessing here, when scratching the sensation of pain diverts the sensation of itchyness from the original problem so it may give u temporary relief but then when the pain goes the itchyness starts.I would sure like to know an accurate answer

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because you are scratching off the histamines that cause it to itch, but they are still there, when you stopping the start producing again, thus it becomes a viscious cycle, scratch stop scratch stop etc...

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I'm not sure, but I'll ask my dog - I think she knows...!

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