Diagnosing itching:

You should see your health care provider if itching is:

• Severe,
• Prolonged,
• Recurring or
• Associated with other symptoms, such as breathing problems or swelling.

If you have total body itching, without obvious cause or during pregnancy, see your physician as soon as possible - it may be a symptom of a serious underlying condition.

Diagnosing the cause of itching

Your physician will try to establish the cause of the itching by examining you, and may do a number of tests:

• A blood test,
• A skin scraping,
• A vaginal swab (if a vaginal infection is suspected), or
• A biopsy (removing a sample of tissue for analysis).

Once it is identified, the cause can then be removed or treated.