Why do wounds itch when they're healing?

I had surgery on my neck (to remove some calcium in my skin) and have stitches and it ITCHES. The wound looks good, no signs of infection, but I want to scratch it!

due to histamine release...

makes you want to itch.........

This is a complex answer. Books have been written on this. The skin is the largest organ in the human body and is the primary defense against external organisms and trauma. An itch is one of the skin's responses to irritants to the skin. Scratch an unaffected area and eventually it will begin to itch. The body is telling you to pay attention to the area of the itch much like a pain response. Generally the solution is not to scratch and treat it or in most cases it will go away on its own.

just the natural healing process BUT DO NOT SCRATCH IT risk of infection

yep!

The other answers got it. Histamine and the body;s natural response to a traumatic experience. You know how when you hurt yourself, the doc tells you to elevate, apply ice, and wrap with a bandage? Well, that is because when you hurt yourself, say a sprained ankle, your body reacts to the trauma at the site by activating your immune response. A host of things come to the site of hte trauma, like white blood cells. This causes an increase in the swelling at the site just cause there is so much stuff there. The rednessis from increased circulation of blood to bring the white blood cells there . The elevation and the ice slow the swelling as the ice acts as a vasoconstrictor making your blood vessels smaller so that not a bunch of stuff gets left in your tissues where you hurt them .
I hope that makes sense.
The itch come s from the histamin e response in your immune system and is actually a good sign of healing!!!
Barbara (certified wound nurse)!!