January 30, 2010
Saturday was filled with a lot of running around and trying to get things done. The brief periods of time that I spent at home, were used to get ready for the next outing. During my evening stop in, I noticed that one of my cats was “cotton balling” that is to say, itching intensely and causing his fur to come out in clumps. No need to be alarmed, it is just all of the fur that he would normally shed balling up and falling out at once – he is not going bald. But watching him scratch informed today’s question. Today’s question is: what causes an itch?
A: Itch, also known as pruitus, is an irritation or tingling sensation of the skin. Doctors and scientists have no definitive conclusion on what an itch is; however they have divided them into two categories: sensory itch and allergic itch. Sensory itch can be defined by a lack of skin rash and may be brought on by a variety of physical or chemical irritants.
Generally, itching is more severe when the skin is warm and there is an absence of distraction – this is why people tend to notice itching more at night. It is likely that itch is transmitted by lightly insulated or uninsulated pain receptors in the superficial skin.
Scratching relieves itch by sending an overwhelming signal to the pain neurons, which masks the itch sensation.
Sources:
Answers.com: Itching
MadSci Network: MedicineSource URL: http://policfashion2011.blogspot.com/2010/01/itchy-scratchy.html
Visit Police Fashion for daily updated images of art collection
Saturday was filled with a lot of running around and trying to get things done. The brief periods of time that I spent at home, were used to get ready for the next outing. During my evening stop in, I noticed that one of my cats was “cotton balling” that is to say, itching intensely and causing his fur to come out in clumps. No need to be alarmed, it is just all of the fur that he would normally shed balling up and falling out at once – he is not going bald. But watching him scratch informed today’s question. Today’s question is: what causes an itch?
A: Itch, also known as pruitus, is an irritation or tingling sensation of the skin. Doctors and scientists have no definitive conclusion on what an itch is; however they have divided them into two categories: sensory itch and allergic itch. Sensory itch can be defined by a lack of skin rash and may be brought on by a variety of physical or chemical irritants.
Generally, itching is more severe when the skin is warm and there is an absence of distraction – this is why people tend to notice itching more at night. It is likely that itch is transmitted by lightly insulated or uninsulated pain receptors in the superficial skin.
Scratching relieves itch by sending an overwhelming signal to the pain neurons, which masks the itch sensation.
Sources:
Answers.com: Itching
MadSci Network: MedicineSource URL: http://policfashion2011.blogspot.com/2010/01/itchy-scratchy.html
Visit Police Fashion for daily updated images of art collection
