If these remedies don't work, or if the itching lasts for more than a week or becomes quite severe, it is best to contact a physician. None of the answers is proven . Scratching an itch provides only temporary relief, and, unfortunately, only leads to more itching. Some scientists believe that scratching actually helps the body release pain-relieving endorphins, but this has not been proven and scratching only provides temporary relief. Scratching may indeed scrape off a layer of skin, but this does not make the itch disappear and it can lead to more serious secondary infections.
Itches are all different.
Therefore, different types of remedies are necessary. The cause of the itch is important in determining treatment. For example, surface itching can be calmed by applying a topical anesthetic, such as benzocaine, which is found in products such as Lanacane Creme. This will help numb the itch immediately, allowing the skin to heal by eliminating the need to scratch again. An itch combined with inflammation and swelling, such as from a bug bite, can be treated with a topical hydrocortisone, which is found in Lanacort.