“DON’T scratch.” “But IT itches!”
If you are afflicted with severe eczema, not only have you heard this before, but you’ve probably told yourself this a million times. You can understand how unbearable and intense the itch can be, and how it can drive you insane looking for some kind of itching relief. The more you scratch, the more it itches; this is known as the vicious itch-scratch-itch cycle, and people with eczema all want to know how to stop itching.
Prevention is your best itch relief.
To prevent it, you should not allow your skin to get to the point where it’s itching like crazy. The first rule of eczema care is to keep your skin well hydrated and moist. Applying moisturizer, without added fragrances or alcohol, several times a day is recommended to preventing this awful tickle.
When bathing, water should be just warm enough to be comfortable. Hot water tends to remove the natural oils from the skin causing it to be even drier. Use unscented soaps or soap substitutes to gently wash yourself, avoiding the use of a washcloth because you’ll most likely want to scrub the skin, which will further irritate it. After bathing, you’ll need to apply moisturizer very liberally.
Cotton clothing is the best choice to wear against sensitive skin. Wool, on the other hand, can be especially irritating. Because laundry detergents can really bother the skin, double rinsing your clothing to eliminate detergent residue can help. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets leave chemicals on clothing that can also irritate the skin and should be avoided.
In the winter, most homes with central heating are too dry and can add to the constant itching. Humidifying, especially at night when itching can be at its worst, can be very helpful. Also, keeping your finger nails short can prevent severe damage to the skin that can later lead to infection.
Some other causes of itching are due to stress or food allergies such as: eggs, milk products, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, or tree nuts. Some studies have shown that itching from eczema is actually reduced when the person is relaxed and breathes slower. By reducing stress in our lives, the eczema won’t be triggered to flare-up, helping us to live a happier life.
Yes, scratching is the natural response to itching, but for people with eczema it’s a whole different ballgame. To relieve the itching, the itch cycle has to be broken and the best way of doing that is to prevent the itch from starting.
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
From about age 15-35, I had extremely itchy skin with eczema patches all over the place. Then, for some strange reason my eczema completely disappeared. I guess I must have ‘grown out of it’.
My 9 year old son however, suffers from eczeme in the winter months. I hate putting hydrocortizone on his skin ona regular basis, so we usually use petroleum jelly. Unfortunately, after we get his ezcema in control again, another flair up happens a week later. It’s a constant battle. Thank goodness the summer months are around the corner.
I am allergic to soy and I really have to watch it closely.
Soy is in everything! It’s surprising that not as many people are bothered by soy, especially when you learn how it is produced. Soy isn’t digestible naturally. Prior to the 70s, it was only given to livestock. The only way you can make it digestible is to ferment it the way the Asian countries have done for centuries. If it’s not fermented it can cause skin problems and other major problems.
Both of my kids were born with eczeme. We have found that Eucerine Lotion and Hydrocortizone cream does help. Their skin has ALWAYS been extremely sensitive ! My son had a pretty severe case this winter all over his chest. It seemed to take forever to get cleared up! We just have to keep after it !
OK. So I’ve got a question. I know it’s not a natural skin condition, but … I’m out in the yard & garden a lot, and we have red ants in places. Of course, they bite like crazy. I go in the house and pour alcohol on it, and the itch goes away. I realize that is dehydrating the skin, but I know of nothing else that stops the itch. This happens maybe once every month or two. I can’t imagine that’s enough to cause a skin problem. What do you think?
I’ll have to tell my wife about the double-rinsing trick. She is allergic to several things & has from time to time mentioned having rash reactions she’s tracked back to soaps or softeners. Thanks.
I appreciate you,
Bill Tessore
Bill Tessore’s Blurbs
I have a cousin who has Eczema and he hasn’t done a lot to take care of his skin. I had him read this article and now he realizes the importance of understanding his condition. Thanks for providing this information. It’s helped.
My mother had Excema, then I had Excema when I was growing up. Now every now and then I still get break outs of it. My daughter, for 12 years has been suffering with Excema all over her body. We have tried everything that was recommended by doctors over the counter and in the stores. Nothing worked until I decided to try Aveeno. I can’t believe how amazing this product is. It is not completely gone but so much better than it has been. Reapplying in important. Also, keeping nails short and buying the right laundry detergent is important.
Good question, Richard
Insect bites that cause a reaction such as itching, swelling or a rash are considered to be a skin allergy. Eczema, on the other hand, is more extreme in every one of these areas and doesn’t disappear after an hour or two like most bug bites. Controlling dry skin plays a major role in controlling eczema, so using rubbing alcohol as an itch relieve for an eczema sufferer would not be a good idea because it will dry out the skin even more, enhancing the problem.
Hi all…my granny suffered from Eczema and Psoriasis for most of her life, and the only thing she ever used was Esoterica (she always pronounced it Estoreeka…very southern
) They didn’t have any idea what it really was or what caused it back then. We should all thank our lucky stars for this 21st century that we live in…because cures and solutions can only get better and easier ~ Granny would be glad! Thanks for the post…
I don’t know if it’s something I eat or the time of the year, but usually in the winter my skin gets very dry and itchy. the only thing that has ever given me any relief is a natural colloidal oatmeal bath.
This is a wonderful article, thanks.
I have a horribly itchy bug bite right now so I read your article with interest. I don’t like to use hydrocortisone cream since it’s a steroid, no matter how mild the OTC version is. But sometimes it’s the only thing that gives some relief. But you’re right about prevention. I used to get terrible outbreaks of poison plant rash every summer and they about drove me mad. But I no longer have any trouble since I knock the darned stuff out before it has a chance to get started. Yeeeee-ha!
Thanks for the information and insight. I have a sister with eczema and I know she loves using dryer sheets and softeners … I’ll forward the info and encourage her to come and check it out herself.
My friend had twins born with eczema – very tiring regime of bathing in coolish water, moisturising afterwards. Fortunately now as young adults they are aware of their bodies, take the appropriate precautions with regard to diet, soapfree bodywashes, shampoo that works for them that doesn’t make the eczema flare up and of course mositurise.
“Awful tickle” is a great way to describe itching. Eczema is so hard on children especially because they become self conscious. Parents don’t often look into prevention, just relieve of symptoms. This is a great article to help parents stop the awful tickle so kids can think of something else.
The double rinsing tip is a good one, particularly with wool which tends to hold residues of detergents, although as you point out wool tends to be a bad skin irritant so it’s probably best avoided. That’s also a good idea about avoiding fabric conditioner I guess it leaves traces in the fabric which obviously doesn’t help.
Both my girls have gone through eczema. I have had to buy stock in moisturizers. They both seem to be better. But I love the idea of double rinsing. I myself seem to have reactions to some soaps. Great advice!
This tip might help the question that Richard Dennis presented. We have ants as well and also mosquito’s. In a little jar, with a seal tight lid, we pour in some alcohol and add 4 aspirin (non coated works best) then we let the aspirin dissolve swirl it around to mix it all together and then stuff it full of cotton. When a bite occurs we pull out a cotton and only dab the effected area. This way we aren’t getting all over the rest of the skin and can keep it contained to one spot. It works really well and no more itching.
Hope this might help!
Once I was in Netherlands in quite “low cost” hotel and when I returned – man I was scratching! Like crazy. Maybe lices. and of course, I remember child age, chickenpox and “friends”.
Today, selling real estate, I am sometimes quite nervous to enter some desolated properties, you never know what you can “discover” there
Take care
I know that when my skin gets dry which is usually in the winter here in Florida, I intake more aloevera juice and it seems to help. I try to avoid the sun as much as possible due to the effects it can have. But great products are all around, we just have to find the ones that work for our skin.
To Richard’s Florida ant bites, try Campo it works great for my boy’s bites.
“In the winter, most homes with central heating are too dry and can add to the constant itching. Humidifying, especially at night when itching can be at its worst, can be very helpful”.
As the body is made mostly of water, having a bath is a very beneficial way of re-hydration… and, particularly if taken just before bed time, relaxing for a more comfortable sleep