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ShareAn itch is a sensation felt on an area of skin that causes a person or animal to desire to scratch that area.
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It is a distressing symptom that can cause discomfort.
Scratching may cause breaks in the skin that may result in infection.
Itching can be related to anything from dry skin to undiagnosed cancer.
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, is transmitted along the same pathway as pain.
For more information about the topic Itch, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Urticaria — Urticaria or hives is a relatively common form of allergic reaction that causes raised red skin welts. Urticaria is also known as nettle rash or ... > read more
Rash — A rash is a change in the skin which affects its appearance or texture. A rash may be localised to one part of the body, or affect all the skin. ... > read more
Histamine — Histamine is a biogenic amine chemical involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a ... > read more
Eczema — Eczema is a form of dermatitis, a skin irritation characterized by red, flaky skin, sometimes with cracks or tiny blisters. It is extremely itchy, ... > read more
Antihistamine — An antihistamine is a drug which serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during ... > read more
Hay fever — Allergic rhinitis, also called pollinosis, hay fever or nasal allergies, and often also written together as hayfever, is a collection of symptoms, ... > read more
Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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