system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
For mosquito bites, does the whole "Draw an X into your skin with your fingertips" have any basis in science, or is it just an old wives' tale?

I've come across this many time, including on Reddit, the idea is that if you press your fingernails into a mosquito bite twice (to make the shape of an X or cross), it will release the toxins, or spread them out over a larger part of the skin to reduce the itch, or some such thing. Does this idea have any scientific basis, or is it mainly a placebo (or replacing itchiness with pain :P)?

Also, some of the posts mentioned adding something (I've seen salt, butter, hot water, and other stuff) on the crossed-out area, not sure for what purpose really. Again, any merit to these? I'm a bit skeptical to be honest.

Thanks :)
gpt
I don't think it has the scientific basis that you explained. From what i remember, some sensations on our skin are stronger than others. Itching being one of the strongest. So the reason why we scratch something that itches is because the pain from scratching is stronger than the sensation of itching, there by relieving yourself of the itch. Marking an X does the same thing as scratching. There's no basis to believe that marking an X would release "toxins" that would relieve the itch.