Itching to know...?

[~ vortex ~]

Why is it when we get an itch anywhere on our body we have to inflict more pain on ourselves by scratching to relieve the original itch. What is the process that is happening when we scratch..?

[Scarlett]

Could it be that we are programmed to react quickly and violently when we feel a "tickle" which could be a deadly spider crawling on us- so we scratch it away? Also, I would say that most scratches don't hurt you more, you only scratch the amount needed to get rid of the itch. If you scratch madly it could be due to a more severe itch like eczema or some kind of pox!

[Octavius]

It depends whether the 'itch' is dermal (from the peripheral nervous system) such as being tickled with a feather (ooer missus) or if the itch is neurogenic (from the central nervous system) like when you see a load of ants or spiders which makes your skin 'crawl'.

One is a physical reaction, unles you particularly enjoy feathery foreplay. The other is a neurological one (the itch doesn't really exist). Thus one is a desire, the other a reflex.