Why is scratching an itch so pleasurable?

Author: Ramon McDermott  |  Last update: Saturday, June 28, 2025

At first, scratching blocks the itch sensation by temporarily distracting the brain with a mild pain sensation. But then the signals start to get a little confusing: The mild pain sensation causes the brain to release serotonin, the body's natural pain reliever.

Why is it so satisfying to scratch an itch?

So, when you take your fingernails and scratch the surface of your skin you are temporarily damaging these receptors which cause your brain to send pain-relieving chemicals to the area (one such natural chemical is serotonin which creates feelings of happiness). That's why it feels good to scratch.

What is the most pleasurable part of the body to itch?

Results. Average itch intensity and scratching pleasurability ratings at the ankle and back were significantly higher than on the forearm. For the forearm and ankle, the higher the itch while scratching, the higher was the pleasurability.

Why does scratching an itch feel so euphoric?

Nerve cells tell your brain something hurts, and that distracts it from the itch. It can make you feel better in that moment, but 1 in 5 people say scratching makes them itch somewhere else on their body. Sometimes the pain from scratching makes your body release the pain-fighting chemical serotonin.

Why is itching relieved by scratching?

It turns out that a painful touch or heat sensation can actually suppress the feeling of a chemical itch (not that this seems like a particularly good trade-off). It is for this reason that it feels so good to scratch at a rash – because it is the pain of scratching that actually relieves the itch.

Why does scratching an itch feel good?

Why is scratching an itch so addictive?

One theory holds that when we scratch ourselves it causes pain signals to be sent to the brain. These signals act as a distraction, causing the itch sensation to abate if only for a second. Scratching also releases the neurotransmitter serotonin, which could be responsible for the pleasurable sensation.

Will an itch go away if you don't scratch it?

This can be an uncomfortable or bothersome sensation that will only resolve if you scratch your skin. Sometimes, pruritus can be painful and other times, it could feel like something is tickling your skin. Scratching your itch can lead to more pain and irritation and won't always resolve your itch.

How to break the itch scratch cycle?

Paste bandages and wet wrapping can both be helpful in reducing the itch–scratch–damage cycle (especially at night, when scratching is often an unconscious action in sleep).

Why do we itch at night?

This maddening condition can be triggered by several things, including our own circadian rhythm, the body's natural 24-hour cycle. This shift can trigger nighttime skin changes such as greater blood flow, feelings of warmth, and lower levels of corticosteroids that might otherwise tamp down inflammation (and itching).

What is the most pleasurable part of the human body?

Most people consider the genitals and breasts to be erogenous zones, though many other areas of the body can also lead to sexual pleasure. Every person is different.

Is itching the lowest form of pain?

An Itch Is Not a Low-Level Form of Pain. Once thought to be a low-level form of pain, itch is instead a distinct sensation with a dedicated neural circuit linking cells in the periphery of the body to the brain, a study in mice suggests.

Where is the best place to itch?

When any part of your body itches, there is only one thing to do – but now scientists have found that the ankle is the most satisfying spot to scratch.

What is a ghost itch?

The prevalence of phantom itch demonstrates the critical role of denervation in generating neuropathic itch; phantom itch is an extreme endophenotype of peripheral NI, which arise in the context of sensory deafferentation.

Why do we get itching in private parts female?

Chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and other STIs can cause vaginal/vulvar itching and irritation and other symptoms. Yeast infection (vaginal candidiasis). About 3 out of every 4 people assigned female at birth (AFAB) will develop a yeast infection at some point in their lives.

Why do we itch after a shower?

Feeling itchy after a shower is usually due to dry skin. The soap and hot water of the shower wash away the natural oils that protect, moisturize, and soften your skin. As a result, your skin is left feeling itchy and tight, especially during the winter when humidity is low.

What is the most satisfying itch to scratch?

The new findings may explain why patients with eczema and psoriasis commonly have itching on their back and ankle. "We never understood why those areas were more affected, and now we better understand that itch in these areas is more intense and pleasurable to scratch," Yosipovitch said.

Why does ice stop itching?

For example, cooling reduces the activity of TRPV1, the ion channel that excites pruriceptors downstream of H1 histamine receptors. These effects might dampen the responses of pruriceptors to itch-inducing stimuli.

What hormone is released when you scratch an itch?

At first, scratching blocks the itch sensation by temporarily distracting the brain with a mild pain sensation. But then the signals start to get a little confusing: The mild pain sensation causes the brain to release serotonin, the body's natural pain reliever.

What are the four types of itch?

Itch has been classified into four different clinical categories. These include neurogenic, psychogenic, neuropathic, and pruritoceptive (2) (Table 1). These categories were developed based on anatomical, pathophysiological, and psychological factors. A given patient can have one or more types of itch.

Which STD causes body itching?

Which STDs can cause itching?
  • chlamydia.
  • gonorrhea.
  • trichomoniasis.
  • genital herpes.
  • genital warts.

What is the unscratchable itch?

Neuropathic itch, which stems from damage to sensory nerves in the skin, has no effective treatment. In recent years, researchers have discovered new kinds of receptor in the skin and spinal cord that play a role in the sensation of itch.

What stops itching fast?

Use creams, lotions or gels that soothe and cool the skin.

Short-term use of nonprescription corticosteroid cream may offer short-term relief of itchy, inflamed skin. Or try calamine lotion or creams with menthol (Sarna, others), camphor, capsaicin, or a topical anesthetic, such as pramoxine (adults only).

Will drinking more water help itchy skin?

Drinking more water keeps your skin hydrated from the inside out and flushes out toxins that can cause irritation. Remember, caffeine and alcohol are dehydrating and can worsen itching. If possible, opt for water instead of your morning coffee or evening cocktail.

Why does hot water freeze faster?

Evaporation. One explanation of the effect is that as the hot water cools, it loses mass to evaporation. With less mass, the liquid has to lose less heat to cool, and so it cools faster. With this explanation, the hot water freezes first, but only because there's less of it to freeze.

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