Why does a tiny mosquito bite hijack your entire brain? In this episode, we dig into the weird and wonderful science of itch—how specialized nerves signal “scratch me,” why it feels good for about two seconds, and how that relief can trap you in an itch-scratch doom loop. We break down acute vs. chronic itch, the difference between histamine-driven and other pathways, and the many medical conditions that can crank itch into overdrive. Then we get practical: moisturizers and barrier repair, when topicals or pills make sense, the role of phototherapy, and simple routines that help you stop feeding the itch. Equal parts neuroscience and “please make it stop.”
