Weird question!!! 10 pts for best answer :)?!


Question: Weird question!!! 10 pts for best answer :)!?
It has been bugging me all night, and I must have an answer!
What causes an ordinary itch on the skin!? And why does scratching cure it!?

Makes you think doesn't it!?!?!!

Thanks for the answers! Have a good night! :)Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Itch is caused by mastocytes or mast cells, this are cells that produce histamine, this histamine reacts with the nerves producing the itching!.
Here's the interesting part of it, scratching or cold (ice) breaks down the histamine!.!.!.!. so it won't react with the histamine receptors in the nerve, this is why scratching or putting ice is the cure!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Itch is defined as an unpleasant sensation that evokes the desire or reflex to scratch!. Itch has many similarities to pain and both are unpleasant sensory experiences but their behavioral response patterns are different!. Pain creates a reflex withdrawal while itch leads to a scratch reflex!. Unmyelinated nerve fibers for itch and pain both originate in the skin, however information for them is conveyed centrally in two distinct systems that both use the same peripheral nerve bundle and spinothalamic tract!.
Historically, the sensations of itch and pain have not been considered to be independent of each other until recently where it was found that itch has several features in common with pain but exhibits notable differences!. The physiological mechanisms of itch are currently poorly understood and this is mainly due to the lack of animal models of itch!. Pruritic stimuli mostly create the same reactions as noxious stimuli in experimental animals, but humans are capable of discerning the distinct features of itch and pain!. Therefore human studies have provided most of the information regarding the processing of pruritic stimuli!.

Hope that helps :]Www@Answer-Health@Com

Most itching is caused by expansion of the blood vessels!. If you have really good circulation, eat hot sauce or peppers, food that contains the vitamin Arginine, you have spontaneous itching anytime!. This is normal!.

Arginine is the vitamin in Viagra!. Arginine releases nitric oxide which in turn dilates the blood vessels!. Many foods contain L-arginine!.

Another one is niacin!. Niacin opens blood vessels big time!. First the skin turns red and then you will start scratching like mad for about 10 minutes!.

These 'vasodilators' all cause itching to some degree whether from supplements or from food!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Just a simple itch on the skin could be caused by anything!. Dryness, causing the top layer to die off becomes itchy which is your bodies way of getting rid of the dead layer!. Other itches come from a reaction of having moisture on the skin or small particles that cause a slight tickle in your hairs!. The scratching really is just a way of moving away these particles, dead skin cells, or any other material that's on your skin causing it to itch!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

There's an interesting article in the current New Yorker on itching!. It should be available free online!. The bottom line was that the current theory is that there are itch receptors, just like there are receptors for pain and temperature!. Some itching is due to stimulation of these receptors on the skin!. This simulation can be chemical (such as poison ivy) or mechanical (the feeling of an ant crawling up your leg)!.

But some itching might be due more to what is happening in the brain than with the itch receptors!. Under this theory, the input to the brain from the itch receptors is impaired!. So the brain gets little or no information from the receptors, and in some situations this causes the brain to try to fill in the gaps in perception!. By doing this, the brain begins to misinterpret non-itchy stimuli as itchy!.

As for scratching making it feel better, the theory seems to be that it calms the area of the brain involved in the unpleasant interpretation of the itch!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

An ordinary itch on the skin is usually caused by inflammation, in which an increase in histamine irritates the nerves!. Scratching the itch stimulates the pain receptors in such a way that it counters the itch stimulation, so your brain no longer registers it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

you have millions and millions of nerves in your body which cause you to feel different things!.!.!.

normally when u have an itch it is really pain that is caused by one of those little nervers and yes when you scratch it makes it feel that much better!.!.!.just as when you have a pain/soreness in your body you rub that spot and it makes it feel better


i like kessas answer better i completely agree and didnt even think about given that much of an explaination, give that person 10pts,Www@Answer-Health@Com

i asked my brother something like this and he told me that something that is not good for youre skin or irates it lands on you and when you scratch it the "thing" is scratched off and yes the word thing IS very scientific lol srry for any bad spelling hehe this is probably completely wrong btw its just what i heard from my bro!.!.!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

dry skin, skin parasites, usually will make it itch!.

and scratching it actually causes it to itch more because you are causing friction and it heats up your skin!. so you will eventually scratch at your itch more!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

the reason an itch occurs is because the top layer of skin or your epidermis has dead skin cells so a itch occurs then when you scratch it the dead skin cells fall off and new ones are put in into place its just how your body works!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

An itch is an uncomfortable sensation on the dermis!. It also may be called an irritation on the skin!. Itching it makes the irritation worse so no it doesn't cure it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

First off, scratching doesn't cure it!. It's just temporary relief!. And many things causes itch!. Warmth, acidic and basic chemicals, dryness, allergic reactions, etc!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

an irritation of the skin caused usually by an allergy to foreign objects!.

Icthing is actually mild pain-scratching futher damages the skin new pain takes precedent over new painWww@Answer-Health@Com

Here ya go!.!.!.

http://www!.answerbag!.com/q_view/2454/Www@Answer-Health@Com

Itching can be caused by many conditions!. Probably the most common cause of itch is due to stress, anxiety or dry skin!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

There are tiny microscopic bugs all over the body!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

bugs!? small lil molecules!?Www@Answer-Health@Com

an itch is when your skin is dry!. scratching doesn't help cuz there is still no moisture!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

maybe a bug walks on you and causes that irrediable or the air blows on your skin to irritate your hair!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

this is so weird cuz i was thinking of this same question earlier today!. but i'm thinking that it is because of nerves!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

microsocpic bugs that are on your skin are crawling all over you!. your cant feel them when your active, but when ur not in motion they bother the hell out of uWww@Answer-Health@Com

anything at all allergies mostlyWww@Answer-Health@Com

rash's,alergies,ive had an itch before but it was only chicken poxWww@Answer-Health@Com

cooties !Www@Answer-Health@Com

dry skin or your clothing or lotions you use it could be a number of thingsWww@Answer-Health@Com

your nerves

cpWww@Answer-Health@Com

umm i'd say clothing or something in the air, or your nerves!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

um i think its becuz off something in the air!.!. or ur hairs lol sorry my answer isnt very reliable!.!.!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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