: What causes the actual itching sensation when we have an itch ?
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Its a sensation called pruritus, its when C-fibers, which are basically identical to nerve fibers that feel pain, are stimulated they send signals to the brain which are processed in a way that triggers a scratch reflex (rather than just pain)
Essentially when you scratch, you are just causing a more “powerful” pain that overrides the itch feeling.
What this does practically is makes you probe the area the itch came from and possibly remove anything foreign causing the itch or at least bring your attention to the area, maybe removing insects or irritating substances.
Along with the other top comment, I would like to point out another explanation as well. Sometimes, you will randomly start itching, I am sure this has happened to everyone. This is been theorized to be your body sending a signal through all your nerve cells to make sure that area is still there and functioning, kinda why amputees will get phantom pains. When you scratch that itch, its your body confirming you still have a functioning body part.
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