Scratching seems to be known instinctively by some animals and humans. It is even used as a euphemism for giving in to powerful urges. Often people mistake the noun, to itch, and try to make it a substitute for to scratch, eg. "I itched myself where the mosquito bit me". It is sometimes used colloquially as, "When I get bored I really get itchy feet and want to travel."
However, for those of us who got the grammar right, we lacked the medical or physiological explanation as to why scratching gives relief. For those of you who are as hungry for reasons as I, it is explained by some newer findings. The article begins: "Scientists have shown scratching helps relieve an itch as it blocks activity in some spinal cord nerve cells that transmit the sensation to the brain." The University of Minnesota study appears in Nature Neuroscience.
There are over 1027 reasons for someone being itchy.
6 April 2009
The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Itchy rash. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.
* Hives
* Blisters - see causes of blisters
* Eczema - see causes of eczema
* Lice
* Scabies
* Insect bite
* Insect sting
* Fungal infection
* Lichen simplex
* Pityriasis rosea
* Lichen sclerosis et atrophicus
* Nodular prurigo
* Vulval itch
* Chicken pox
* Measles
* Adverse reaction to medications
* Certain medications
* See also causes of itch
* anal itch
* vulval itch
* genital itch
* more causes...»
Let's face it, we all have itches that need scratching, metaphorical or physical.
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