# Why does blowing on a minor scratch or scrape make it feel better?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-blowing-on-a-minor-scratch-or-scrape-make-it-feel-better/597668>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 26, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-blowing-on-a-minor-scratch-or-scrape-make-it-feel-better/597668 "2011-09-26T17:04:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-blowing-on-a-minor-scratch-or-scrape-make-it-feel-better/597668/1 "2011-09-26T17:04:04Z")

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Remember when you were little and you got a scrape or scratch and your mother would blow on it? It actually made it feel better.

I actually have a scrape on my thumb today and got some soap on it. I blew on it and it reduced the stinging. But then I thought, why in the world does that work? What is happening to reduce the pain? Is blowing lowering the temperature? Blowing the stinging agent away from the wound? Is it all psychological?

Anyone have the straight dope on what’s happening here?

Thanks,  
J.

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**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-blowing-on-a-minor-scratch-or-scrape-make-it-feel-better/597668/2 "2011-09-26T18:07:47Z")

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I suggest that blowing on a boo-boo increases evaporation, and the cooling sensation from evaporation eases the pain…somewhat.  
~VOW