Itching (pruritus) can be more than a small annoyance. It can cause significant discomfort and may even become a distraction. You may be wondering how to know when itching is serious and how you ...

Feeling itchy or having an itch is a sensation of irritation on the skin that prompts you to scratch. It is also called pruritus. Itching is a sensation in your skin that motivates you to scratch. It ...

Inflammation, in turn, stimulates the release of a chemical called histamine that causes itching of the anus (pruritus ani). Scratching can make things worse by causing even more inflammation.