What causes itches?

[AndiFlatland]

What exactly is an itch? I don't mean the kind that's caused by rashes or infections - but just the humdrum, common-or-garden itches we all get and despatch with a quick scratch countless times every day. (I was told by my parents when I was very young that it was millions of bacteria on your skin having a war, and that if you scratch it, the next thing you must do is wipe your fingernail on fabric, to ensure that the things don't get back on your - or anybody else's - skin and carry on with their war! Probably an old wives' tale, but for the whole of my life, it's been a conditioned response to do that!)

[Old_Geezer]

<shrug> just signals travelling up your nerves to the brain.
Suspect caused by the skin not being 100% somehow.
I consider it to an extermely mild form of pain.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh and your tale sounds to be one of those lies parents occasionally tell kids.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Mild itching is generally caused by surface irritants on the skin e.g.hair follicles,dust.mites,etc..these trigger receptors which send a message to the brain...you then scratch and the message is cancelled until it happens again.

[Sqad]

Key word is histamine.

Irritations, from whatever cause mainly stimulates the surrounding skin, histamine is released which does various things one of which causes itching.

[Georgiesmum]

Could just be dry skin.