If there is one symptom which is common to all these skin
conditions it is itching. There is nothing worse than that
burning or tingling sensation on your skin which causes an
urgent desire to scratch even though it can make things worse.
But it is very hard to resist. What is itching? Itching or to
use the medical term pruritus, is a sensation that occurs on any
part of the body and is extremely frustrating! There are 2 types
of itching: - Localised: this itching occurs on one part of the
body - Generalised: itching which happens over the entire body
Both are equally as annoying. Causes of itching Itching occurs
for any number of reasons which include: - Skin complaint, e.g.
psoriasis - Insect bite, e.g. midges - Fungal infection, e.g.
athlete’s foot, thrush - Systemic condition, e.g. underactive
thyroid gland - Dry skin - Prickly heat - Allergies, e.g. nickel
in jewellery - Pregnancy or the menopause (hormonal
fluctuations) - Medical conditions, e.g. hepatitis, leukaemia,
chronic kidney failure. You may not