Appliance of science: Why does it feel good to scratch an itch?

Lots of things can cause us to itch but there is one unanimous response to the sensation — scratching. There is nothing quite so satisfying as scratching an itch, but what causes the itch in the first place, and why does scratching bring such relief?

Appliance of science: Why does it feel good to scratch an itch?

Lots of things can cause us to itch but there is one unanimous response to the sensation — scratching. There is nothing quite so satisfying as scratching an itch, but what causes the itch in the first place, and why does scratching bring such relief?

What exactly is an itch?

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