Name: Why do we itch?
Uploaded: 2019-03-01T16:45:21Z
Duration: 4 min 29 s
Description: The average person experiences dozens of individual itches each day. We've all experienced the annoyance of an inconvenient itch — but have you ever pondered why we itch in the first place? Is there actually an evolutionary purpose to the itch, or is it simply there to annoy us? Emma Bryce digs deep into the skin to find out. [Directed by Sashko Danylenko, narrated by Addison Anderson].

The average person experiences dozens of individual itches each day. We've all experienced the annoyance of an inconvenient itch — but have you ever pondered why we itch in the first place? Is there actually an evolutionary purpose to the itch, or is it simply there to annoy us? Emma Bryce digs deep into the skin to find out. [Directed by Sashko Danylenko, narrated by Addison Anderson].

Emma Bryce: Why do we itch?

Why do we itch?

Itching, a common yet mysterious sensation, is intricately linked to our body's defense mechanism against external threats.

Scratching sends a low-level pain signal that momentarily overrides the itch, acting as a distraction for momentary relief.

Advanced treatments for chronic itching, including mirror therapy for amputees, illustrate the brain's power to alleviate discomfort.