# Why does scratching get rid of (or not) an itch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2000, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-scratching-get-rid-of-or-not-an-itch/47539 "2000-12-28T19:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Z\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f1d935/32.png) [@Z\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Z_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-scratching-get-rid-of-or-not-an-itch/47539/1 "2000-12-28T19:06:26Z")
Does scratching release some sort of chemical or does just the sensation of a scratch override the sensation of an itch temporarily and has nothing to do with eliminating an itch? Curious today. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-scratching-get-rid-of-or-not-an-itch/47539/2 "2000-12-28T19:11:52Z")
Door #2. My understanding of it is that the body cannot register more than one sensation at a given location, so scratching creates minor pain that overrides the itch. I’m sure someone will be along soon with a more technical explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Z\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f1d935/32.png) [@Z\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Z_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-scratching-get-rid-of-or-not-an-itch/47539/3 "2000-12-28T19:17:04Z")
If that’s the case, then why does the itch usually (I say that carefully) go away after a scratch. As an afterthought, any chance that the scratch serves more than one purpose? ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-scratching-get-rid-of-or-not-an-itch/47539/4 "2000-12-28T20:02:12Z")
I believe the current theory is that an itch is localized low-level pain signals, a bit like skin static. A bad comparison is to buzzes and blurs you see in the dark- the nerves are straining to pick up any signal, so they boost their inputs. That’s also why an itch tends to get worse over time, or move, or multiples itches spring up. It’s true biofeedback. Scratching disrupts the cycle, with a non-low-level signal. I think it resets the receptors to normal. jb, suddenly feeling itchy. p.s.- don’t yawn. ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-scratching-get-rid-of-or-not-an-itch/47539/5 "2000-12-28T21:29:05Z")
Of course there’s the more prosaic reason. If something is genuinely irritating the skin (an allergen, a grass spicule, an ingrowing hair, fleas, lice) then scratching will obviously dislodge the irritant. ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-scratching-get-rid-of-or-not-an-itch/47539/6 "2000-12-28T23:35:50Z")
From [britannica.com](http://britannica.com): > [@](#): > > The release of histamine from cells in the epidermis is usually considered to incite most sensations of itching. Scratching may temporarily relieve itching by interrupting the rhythm of nerve impulses or by inflicting transitory damage to the nerves.