# What causes an itch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-an-itch/618182 "2012-04-08T16:27:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zep\_Tepi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@Zep\_Tepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zep_Tepi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-an-itch/618182/1 "2012-04-08T16:27:07Z")
Always puzzled about this one. Some itches can be cured just by the slightest touch of a fingertip. What actually causes the itch in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![chloes1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@chloes1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chloes1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-an-itch/618182/2 "2012-04-08T16:36:28Z")
My understanding is that an itch is actually a very low level pain response. It’s an irritation of the nerves in that area ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-an-itch/618182/3 "2012-04-08T16:45:53Z")
There’s a lot of info on the wikipedia page for itch. It’s a bit too long to quote so I’ll just link it. > **[Itch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itch)** > > Itch (also known as pruritus) is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex to scratch. Itch has resisted many attempts to be classified as any one type of sensory experience. Itch has many similarities to pain, and while both are unpleasant sensory experiences, their behavioral response patterns are different. Pain creates a withdrawal reflex, whereas itch leads to a scratch reflex. > Unmyelinated nerve fibers for itch and pain both originate in the skin; however, information for them is convey... ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-an-itch/618182/4 "2012-04-08T22:55:52Z")
Seven years of marriage.