Why Do We Itch? Why Doesn’t Scratching Help at All?

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Why Do We Itch? Why Doesn't Scratching Help at All?

At one point in our lives, we itch for some reason. Everyone can relate to it, and in this article, you will learn the various reasons behind it and why scratching it doesn't help.

Why Do We Itch?

Among the popular causes of itching are mosquito and bug bites, chickenpox, and poison ivy. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, there's more to that.

Extreme dry skin can cause an intense itch, so moisturizing our skin is necessary. Aside from dry skin, numerous skin conditions make us itch, including atopic dermatitis, chickenpox, dyshidrotic eczema, folliculitis, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, hives, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, ringworm, seborrheic dermatitis, and shingles.

Itching can also be a sign of skin cancer. Several people reported that the only characteristic they experienced the disease was having an itchy new or changing spot on their skin.

Additionally, itching could be a warning sign of disease inside the body, especially when it persists for a long tie. It could be due to a blood disease, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, overactive thyroid gland, or HIV.

People with blood-related illnesses like Hodgkin's or cutaneous T-cell lymphoma frequently experience itching. It often occurs in persons on dialysis or about to start, and it can also be a marker of severe kidney disease. These individuals may have broad itching, which is often most severe on the back, arms, and legs.

People with liver conditions, including cirrhosis, hepatitis C, or a clogged bile duct, frequently itch. When liver disease is present, itching frequently begins on the palms and soles of the feet and then extends to other areas of the body.

It could also be due to some medication, cancer treatment, nerve problems, plants like poison ivy, marine life like jellyfish, insect bites, or an allergic reaction. Our skin can develop allergies to several substances.

The body recognizes allergens as foreign invaders and releases the chemical histamine, which makes its way to the nerve cell and the top layer of the skin. It binds to the protein receptors and causes molecular events, including nerve cells sending an itch signal to the spinal cord.

Nickel, present in many items we touch daily, is one of the most frequently occurring substances that might result in an allergic skin reaction. Cell phones, jewelry, eyeglass frames, zippers, and belt buckles are examples of products that contain nickel.

Nail polish, perfumes, shampoos, latex, and cement are among other things that can produce an allergic skin reaction. You'll probably get a rash and an insatiable itch if you have an allergic response.

Psychiatric conditions like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression may also cause you to itch.

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Why You Should Not Scratch an Itch?

Scratching feels good. However, doing so is not recommended because it only makes things worse.

The nerve cells that transmit their signals to the brain are inextricably entangled with the ones that transmit pain signals; as a result, scientists are still unsure of how the brain distinguishes between pain and itch. They are aware, however, that when you scratch an itch, you slightly hurt yourself. And the pain hides the itch for a fleeting moment of exquisite, sweet relaxation.

Unfortunately, after realizing the pain signal, your brain attempts to block it by releasing serotonin. That particular neurotransmitter controls mood. Serotonin travels in Your spinal cord, triggering nerve cells that produce itch sensations.

Scratching an itch is a vicious cycle. The more you scratch, the more itchy you feel.

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