Having to have someone explain why we itch seems like something that should have been explained in Health class, if that particular course is even still around. There are a few different reasons why we itch but one of the easiest to understand would be the bug bite. A mosquito, one of the most prevalent bugs that loves to land on just about any living thing it can, will inject its host with an anticoagulant that we’re mildly allergic to. In response the body will answer by activating something called histamine and then causing the infected area to swell. Histamine will also activate the nerve that have to do witch itching, which is why bug bites typically itch like crazy. Unfortunately the sensation that we perceive as pleasure when scratching the itch is simply the cessation of the pain sensation that would otherwise be present once the swelling starts. By itching that sensation is negated, but as we know itching a bite and then leaving it alone will only make it itch more.
There are other itches that are hard to explain, such as phantom itches that seem to come from nowhere. In those with all their extremities this is hard to explain as there are many reasons why an itch can occur, but not a lot that fit every little situation. Those that have lost a limb or some extremity however will tend to feel phantom itches since the loss of such an integral part of the body will wreak havoc with one’s nervous system, and the brain will continue send signals to the lost body part in an attempt to reconnect. Therefore it will itch like usual despite not being there, which is just flat out weird.
Itching isn’t a bad thing unless it’s done to excess. Scratching continually can damage the skin, and scratching open wounds can lead to infection and possibly worse. This is why people say not to scratch at bug bites, no matter how tempting it is, because it will only damage the infected area and possibly cause the healing process to be delayed the longer one scratches. Anyone that’s ever been to the deep woods or to the coast knows that mosquito bites are to be expected, but they should also be aware that repellent and lotion to ease the itching should be a common item kept in a pack. It’s a lot better than having to will yourself not to scratch, as this takes an exceptional amount of willpower for even the most disciplined person.
For serious itches that require some form of treatment, say something more than just a mild scratching sensation, it’s possible to use something cool or cold to ease the pain of the itching, or to use lotion that could possibly calm it down as well. The one thing you obviously don’t want to do is keep scratching, as it doesn’t take much for a person’s fingernails to wear through an infected area and make things worse. Better to lotion up than to have a raw patch of skin that will hurt like all hell.
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