Itchy skin is an uncomfortable, irritating sensation that makes you want to scratch. It may occur in small areas, such as on an arm, leg or whole body.

Sometimes itchy skin lasts a long time and becomes very intense. As you rub or scratch the area, it gets itchier. And the more it itches, the more you scratch. Breaking this itch-scratch cycle can be a challenging task.

Itchy skin that is without other obvious skin changes, such as a rash, is most often caused by dry skin (xerosis). Dry skin usually results from environmental factors that you can wholly or partially control. These include hot or cold weather with low humidity levels, long-term use of air conditioning, and washing or bathing too much.

Other conditions cause itchy skin as well. In these cases, the itching usually affects specific areas and is accompanied by other signs such as red, irritated skin or bumps and blisters.

Liver disease, malabsorption of wheat (celiac disease), kidney failure, iron deficiency anaemia, thyroid problems and cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma also cause itchiness.

In these cases, the itching usually affects the whole body rather than one specific area. The skin may look otherwise normal except for the scratched areas. Wool, chemicals, soaps and other substances can irritate the skin and cause itching too. Sometimes substances cause an allergic reaction, such as cosmetics. Food allergies also may cause itchy skin reactions. Reaction to drugs is yet another cause for itchy skin.

Some women experience itchy skin during pregnancy, especially on the abdomen, thighs, breasts and arms. Also, itchy skin conditions such as dermatitis can worsen during pregnancy.

If the itching lasts more than two weeks and doesn’t improve with self-care measures; if it is extremely severe and uncomfortable, and distracts you from the daily routines or prevents you from sleeping; if it can’t be easily explained or affects whole body; if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as extreme tiredness, weight loss, change in bowel habits or urinary frequency, fever, or redness of the skin, consulting a doctor is advisable.

Through examination and tests, the doctor may determine that your itching is in fact a symptom of another skin condition.

One of these conditions is dermatitis, also called eczema, which is an inflammation of the skin. There are different types of dermatitis and the disorder can have many causes and occur in many forms. Generally, dermatitis describes swollen, reddened and itchy skin.

Yet another itchy condition is psoriasis, where the life cycle of skin cells speeds up, resulting in a rapid buildup of rough, dead skin cells. These skin cells accumulate, forming thick, silvery scales and itchy, dry, red patches that are sometimes painful.

The list goes further with athlete’s foot, ringworm of the body, ringworm of the scalp and jock itch that are caused by a fungal infection that develops on the top layer of your skin. These infections often cause round, flat patches of itchy skin.

In addition, there are hives that are raised — itchy red bumps of various sizes that appear and disappear on the skin. Allergic reactions to medications or foods can cause hives.

Further, body lice, pubic lice and head lice are common causes of intense itching. Lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that feed on our blood. The infestation, which is easily spread through close physical contact, can cause small, red bumps whereas scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by a tiny, eight-legged burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. The presence of the mite leads to intense itching in the area of its burrows. Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close physical contact.

Prolonged itching and scratching may increase the intensity of the itch, possibly leading to neurodermatitis (lichen simplex chronicus). Neurodermatitis is a condition in which an area of skin that’s frequently scratched becomes thick and leathery. The patches can be raw, red or darker than the rest of the skin. Persistent scratching can also lead to a bacterial skin infection and permanent scars or changes in skin colour.

One of the medications called wet dressings involves applying medicated cream to affected areas and then covering these areas with damp cotton material. If an internal disease is found, whether it’s kidney disease, iron deficiency or a thyroid problem, treating that disease often relieves the itch. Although many types of itching respond well to treatment, itch relief may not be immediate. However, a number of creams and ointments are specifically designed to relieve itch.

Take care of that headache

Nearly everyone experiences an occasional severe headache. Nevertheless, if it comes frequently, it can interfere with one’s daily life.

Apart from over-the-counter or prescription medication, are you aware of what else you can do to stop the pain? Here are a few tips;

Eat healthy food: Don’t skip meals especially breakfast.

Exercise regularly: During physical activity, your body releases certain chemicals that block pain signals to your brain. If your doctor agrees, choose any exercise you enjoy. Walking, swimming and cycling are often good choices. But it’s important to start slowly. Exercising too vigorously can trigger some types of headaches.

Get enough sleep: Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day even on weekends. Relax before you go to bed. If you don’t fall asleep within 15 minutes, get up. Read or do another quiet activity until you become drowsy.

Avoid excess caffeine: Sometimes caffeine helps curb headaches. In fact, many headache medications contain caffeine. But heavy daily caffeine use, more than 600 milligrams of caffeine a day, or about four to seven cups of coffee can cause headaches and irritability.

Stress and tension-headaches often go hand in hand. To reduce stress, try these simple tips:

Simplify your life: Rather than looking for ways to squeeze more activities or chores into the day, find a way to leave some things out.

Manage time wisely: Update your to-do list every day both at work and at home. Delegate what you can, and break large projects into manageable chunks.

Take a break: A few slow stretches or a quick walk may renew your energy for the task at hand.

Adjust your attitude: Stay positive. If you find yourself thinking, ‘This can’t be done,’ switch gears. Think instead, ‘This will be tough. But I can make it work.’

Let go: Don’t worry about things you can’t control.

Muscle tension can trigger tension headaches. If you’re feeling tense, apply heat or ice to soothe sore neck and shoulder muscles. Use a heating pad set on low, a hot-water bottle, a warm compress or a hot towel. A hot bath or shower may help, too.

If you’d rather use ice, wrap the ice pack in a cloth to protect your skin. Gently massage your temples, scalp, neck and shoulders with your fingertips.

Take time to unwind every day with this deep-breathing exercise.