itching

[jof64]

why do we itch ,what causes it?

[matty1]

The central chemical involved in itching is histamine, a molecule released by mast cells in the skin. Histamine is the chemical that causes the itch and reddening when bitten by insects. It binds to local nerve endings on specific receptors.

An itch from cutaneous (skin-related) stimuli, such as movement of small hairs on the body, was thought to be transmitted along the same pathway as pain, although recent research has found that itching has its own neural pathways. An itch caused by histamine is transmitted to the brain by a different neural pathway, described in 2001 by Andrew et al. As with pain, a histamine-induced itch travels via the spinothalamic tract, but in fibres specific for itch.

[matty1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itching

[jof64]

thanks thats answered my wifes question that shes been asking for years

[Le Chat]

An itch is the body's response to low grade pain.