The Itch

The definition of "itch", according to Wikipedia is as follows:

An itch (Latin: pruritus) is a sensation felt on an area of skin that causes a person or animal to desire to scratch that area.

I believe that the sensation of an itch can be much more complex than that. Scratching an itch can have huge consequences and one should know what to do! I have ranked certain types of itches and what you should, or should not do, in that situation.

The General itch. This is a small annoyance located anywhere on the body that can be politely dealt with in public. Perhaps a tag on your sweater is bothering you. Most of the general public will not be upset by you reaching up to scratch the back of your neck. A stray hair on your face could also be the root of the problem. Do not confuse a stray hair stuck in your bra as a general itch, as this should NEVER be dealt with in public.

The Head itch. I believe the head itch should have a category all to itself due to the complex nature of the polite scratch in this situation. Scratching one's head once, or even twice, for a very limited period of time is certainly acceptable. If you have to scratch more than three times, please remove yourself from the public eye. This brings to mind images of critters crawling through your curly locks and can also induce a general feeling of head itchiness in the people who are around you. This is especially true if the kids have just gone back to school and the school nurse has just issued the official "Head Lice Warning Letter."