This leaflet gives a brief overview of itching when no cause can be found for the itch. Various other leaflets discuss conditions where the cause of the itch is known, such as eczema or urticaria.Itching (pruritus) is a symptom that can be caused by a large number of conditions. Sometimes itching is caused by a skin condition, such as eczema or hives. You would usually have a rash to see if this is the case. Other times itching is caused by a more general illness, such as jaundice or chronic kidney disease. Itching is also common in pregnancy. Sometimes you itch in a specific place. Itch of the back passage (anus) and itch of the external sex organs of a woman (her vulva) are common, for example, and have various causes. These conditions are also known as pruritus ani and pruritus vulvae. See separate leaflets called Pruritus Ani (Itchy Bottom) and  Pruritus Vulvae (Vulval Itch) for details.However, in many cases no cause is found for an itch. This article deals only with itch that is not due to any underlying skin or medical condition.

This is called itch of unknown cause.If you are not sure why you are itching, you should see your doctor. If no cause for an itch is obvious, then your doctor may suggest some blood tests to see if there is an underlying cause for the itch. However, in many cases, the tests are normal and the cause remains a mystery.Itching can occur over your entire body or just in one area. It can be very unpleasant and uncomfortable.One possible factor is that in some people with itch of unknown cause, their skin may be drier than average, which may contribute to the itch. Itch of unknown cause is most common in older people whose skin tends to be drier than younger people. Itch tends to be worse at night and may be made worse by bathing. Any part of the skin may be affected.The following may help to improve your itching:Keep your nails short to limit any damage done to your skin by scratching. As much as possible try not to scratch. It is thought that scratching can make itch worse and you may get into an 'itch-scratch' vicious cycle.

(That is, you itch more because you scratch, so you scratch more because you itch more ... and so on.)Keep cool as much as possible. Some people find having cool (or lukewarm) baths or showers soothing.Water Ridge Shower HeadAvoid irritants such as soaps, bubble bath and detergents. T Shirt HippoCotton clothes are usually preferable to woollen clothes.Nyip T-ShirtDry skin may be making the itch worse. Moisturisers (emollients) are useful to keep the skin supple and moist. They can be applied once a day or several times a day if your skin becomes very dry. Water and soap dry out the skin as they wash away the natural skin oils. Therefore, the most important time to use moisturisers is after a bath or shower. Moisturisers work by providing a replacement for these body oils and keeping the skin moist.

Numerous moisturisers are available as creams, ointments, bath/shower additives and also to use instead of soap. It may be worth trying out a few to see which is the most suitable. These can be bought over-the-counter or different ones are available on prescription from your doctor. Use them liberally, as often as needed.Antihistamine medication is sometimes tried. Antihistamines are useful for some skin conditions that cause itch such as urticaria. A trial of medication may be worth a try. However, they do not help with all types of itch. For itch of 'unknown cause' they may have little effect. Some antihistamines also tend to make you drowsy. However, these types of antihistamines may be worth trying at bedtime if itch is troublesome at night. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you further.Relaxation techniques can be beneficial for some people.Occasionally certain antidepressants may be prescribed when itching is very distressing.The amount of discomfort from itch can vary from person to person, and from time to time in the same person.

A referral to a skin specialist may be advised if your itching persists or is severe. There are different treatments which are being investigated in clinical trials which may be available in the future.The seal of disapproval Q We recently had our en suite fitted out with Showerwall shower-lining panels, which we specified on the basis of the company’s sales brochure. A few weeks after the Showerwall was fitted, we noticed swelling on the bottom edges of the panels. I made a complaint and the manufacturer’s representative came to investigate. His report basically said the Showerwall was not sealed well enough with silicone sealant. We had read the Showerwall brochure, which uses phrases such as, “waterproof panelling”, “non-porous surface”, “Showerwall comes with a 15-year guarantee that’s as watertight as the panelling itself”. I maintain that without those words and phrases, we would not have chosen this product. To have such an integral part of the structure of a bathroom wholly dependent on silicone sealant, even to a layman like me, seems ridiculous.

I believe their marketing is misleading. I called the company to state my feelings and they drew my attention to the phrase, “waterproof panelling system” (which occurs just twice in the brochure), meaning that from that I should have deduced that the panels themselves are not waterproof. A Showerwall is an MDF (medium density fibreboard) sheet material with a laminate face. The sales material does indeed describe it as a “waterproof panelling system, with a moisture-resistant MDF core and high-pressure laminate backing that’s designed to deliver a smooth, watertight finish”. MDF is a very useful timber board material, but it does tend to swell up on contact with water – even so-called “moisture-resistant” MDF. I must admit I wouldn’t have MDF anywhere near my bathroom, let alone risk building a shower enclosure out of it. However, the manufacturers tell me that they have been selling Showerwall for more than 10 years, with thousands of successful installations. The main issue between you and the manufacturer centres around the use of silicone sealant to seal the cut edges of the MDF panels.

The Showerwall manufacturers say in their brochure that “approximately one cartridge of Showerwall sealant is required” for every panel. They say your installation comprised three panels, but your sales invoice only lists two cartridges of sealant. You say that your experienced bathroom installer was confident he had used enough sealant, and that as well as the two cartridges shown on the invoice, he used a third cartridge of identical silicone sealant made by another manufacturer. You also say Showerwall’s inspector was unable to examine the shower installation closely because he could hardly get on his knees due to a football injury. You believe he concluded that the panels were swelling due to insufficient silicone sealant simply because they had swollen. I confess I am puzzled by this case. As I stated earlier, I wouldn’t have thought MDF was a suitable material for a shower enclosure. The sealed cut edges of the boards cannot be inspected without dismantling the shower, as they are fully bedded in sealant within the edging trims.

And the Showerwall instructions also state that the sealant “needs to be replaced from time to time – failure to do this may cause water ingress and subsequent panel damage”. Quite how you are supposed to replace the sealant without completely dismantling and rebuilding the shower enclosure is beyond me. So it seems to me that the manufacturer will always have a simple get-out clause from its promised 15-year guarantee by claiming that the Showerwall panels were not fitted – or dismantled and refitted – in accordance with its guidelines – a claim that would appear to be impossible to prove or disprove one way or the other. The latest news is that since my involvement, the manufacturer has contacted you to arrange a further inspection, but you have declined this offer, insisting that the product is not “waterproof”, as claimed in the marketing materials, and that the company should compensate you for the refitting of your bathroom. You are reporting them to the Advertising Standards Authority.