ITCHING

When itching is generalized and accompanied by a rash, it may be due to an allergy reaction produced by a drug, foodstuff or cosmetic. If the itching is generalized and accompanied by a yellowish coloration of the skin, jaundice is a possible explanation and medical help should be sought as soon as possible. Localized itching can be caused by insect bites and stings, worms, or piles, thrush, eczema (there will usually be a noticeable skin rash). Often however, itching is caused by factors which cannot easily be diagnosed. In the elderly, for example, inexplicable itching is relatively common. Whatever the cause, the best first aid remedy is to soothe the area with calamine lotion or with a cold cloth. Professional advice should be sought as soon as possible so that a precise diagnosis can be made.

IMPETIGO

Although it usually starts as a small, fairly harmless looking blister, impetigo - which contagious – can cause considerable problems. It should never be underestimated. A visit to your doctor is essential once impetigo has been diagnosed, because an antibiotic is probably going to be needed. Depending on the state of the infection your doctor may prescribe antibiotic cream, tablets or injections. The organism causing the infection, usually either a streptococcus or a staphylococcus bacterium is very easily passed from one individual to another. Impetigo travels around schools and colleges and very easily. Parents sometimes think that only 'dirty' children get impetigo but, in fact, however careful you are about personal hygiene you can still develop impetigo.

HIVES/NETTLERASH

Known medically as urticaria, this is a sudden, localized collection of fluid in the skin that produces a collection of itchy weals. It may be a short-term or long-term problem, it may be localized or affect fairly large areas of skin. It can occur at any age and affect either sex. Urticaria may result from any of the following, it may be an allergy reaction to food or drugs, it may result from stings and bites, it may be a reaction to heat or cold, it may result from an emotional upset. Sometimes there is no obvious cause. Just how urticaria develops is not known, but there is little doubt that the symptoms are produced by the release into the skin, of subsctances which weaken the walls of the capillaries allowing fluid to flow into the tissue.

HIRSUTISM

Most men have hair growing on their faces and bodies. Most woman don't. Inevitable, therefore, women who find that unwanted hair is starting to grow will want to get rid of it. There is nothing new about this; four or five thousand years ago, Egyptian women rubbed themselves with papyrus leaves to remove excess body hair. Modern fashions have, however, meant that the need to remove excess hair has become far more desperate. Between them, about 50 per cent of the female production spend millions of pounds each year on creams and lotions and a whole host of magical remedies, trying to rid themselves of superfluous hair. There is undoubtedly much confusion about which remedies work best, when and where.

HERPES ZOSTER

Herpes zoster, or shingles, is caused by the same virus that produces chicken pox. In herpes zoster the virus enters the skin, producing an inflammation of both skin tissue and nerves. There is usually a line of blisters and lot of pain, which often develops before the blisters appear and may persist after they have gone. Although shingles can affect children it is most commonly seen among relatively elderly adults who are, it seems, more susceptible. The diagnosis of herpes zoster should be made by a doctor since the pain and the blisters can be difficult to diagnose accurately. There is not much available in the way of treatment; pain relief with simple analgesics is usually all that can be done. Calamine lotion applied to the blistered skin will usually help retrieve this itching.

HERPES SIMPLEX

Herpes simplex – otherwise known as cold sores – usually attacks the mouth and lips but can involve other parts of the body. For example, herpes can affect the eyes. There is also a type of herpes simplex virus that affects the genitalia and is, currently, one of the most feared venereal diseases in the world. Scientists are still looking for a cure for the herpes simplex virus and, although a vaccine has been prepared, it is likely that it will be some time before the virus is completely eradicated. There are some prescribable treatments available for herpes so, if you think you have this problem, it is worth visiting your physician.

GREASY HAIR

It is the sebum – a fatty secretion produced by the glands on the scalp – which makes hair greasy and if these glands are irritated in any way they increase their production of oil. So, if you have a tendency to oily, greasy hair don't wear your hair in a style that needs combing or brushing too often, don't wear a hat unless you have to, don't use really hot water on your scalp and keep out of the sun as much as possible. Greasy hair is easier to manage if it is kept short. If your wash your hair too often when you have greasy hair you will simply encourage the production of more grease. If you don't wash it very often at all you will forever be embarrassed by greasy hair. The best solution is to wash it every two or three days. Rubbing your scalp hard will simply stimulate the glands to produce more and more grease.

FRECKLES

Freckles are simply localized pigment deposits in the skin. It is now believed that individuals who develop freckles easily are born with two different types of melancocytes (the cells that produce the pigment melanin). One type of the melanocyte produces normal skin tanning when exposed to the sun while the other produces a permanent, pigmented spot. Freckles are the permanent and there is nothing that can be done about them once they have developed. (There are special chemicals which are said to help get rid of freckles, but I don't recommend them because they could cause skin problems of their own.)