How to stop your child from scratching their skin
Any parent of a child with eczema will know how upsetting it is to watch their child scratching their skin, knowing that it will ultimately cause further damage and even risk infection.
We spoke to consultant dermatologist Dr Kathy Taghipour, to get her top tips on how to prevent your child from scratching their skin:
The importance of breaking the itch scratch cycle
Dry skin caused by eczema stimulates the nerves, which then sends a message to the brain that the skin is itchy. Our natural response is to scratch to relieve the itch, but unfortunately scratching will in fact cause inflammation, eczema flare ups, and in turn stimulate the itch response, creating what we refer to as the itch-scratch cycle.
Why is scratching bad for the skin?
Scratching the skin causes further inflammation and rash in the skin.
Prolonged scratching can lead to broken skin, which then leaves the skin vulnerable to infection.
Broken skin also allows irritants and allergens to enter, triggering a reaction, which will in turn make the itching worse and cause the eczema to flare up.
Scratching in the same spot over a prolonged period of time causes skin to thicken (lichenification.) Lichenification causes the skin to feel incredibly itchy, which in turn increases the impulse to scratch (again perpetuating the itch-scratch cycle.)
So how can you stop your child from scratching their skin?
Scratching is an in-built reflex response to the itching feeling, which provides instant (if momentary) relief. Simply telling a child to “stop scratching” is not only futile but could also lead to real frustration and feelings of shame for children with eczema.
Here are our top tips for helping to manage the itch in children with eczema:
1. Skin Care
As Dr Taghipour explains, itching is often a sign that the eczema is uncontrolled. Finding and implementing a skin care regime that works for your child should result in less flares and therefore less itching and scratching.
Skin is itchier when it is dry, so adopting a consistent emollient routine can help skin to lock in moisture and reduce the itch sensation.
Emollin emollient spray offers all of the moisture-locking, skin soothing and barrier protecting benefits of a traditional ointment, in a handy, no-touch spray-on application.
2. Pinch or press
Rather than scratching, encourage your child to either pinch or apply pressure to the itchy area, and to wait until the sensation passes.
3. Keep hands busy
When your child is feeling itchy, try to engage them in activities that use both of their hands, such as colouring in, building with lego, playing with a fidget spinner, or squeezing a stress ball.
4. Keep cool
Many people find that applying a cool compress to the area reduces the itching sensation. Alternatively, you could speak to your GP to learn how to effectively wet wrap an area, which again can soothe the itch.
5. Nail care
Try to keep your child’s nails short and clean to minimise damage if scratching does occur.
6. Protective clothing
Night-time can be prime time for children to scratch. Warm bedroom temperatures, increased trans-epidermal water loss, and reduced awareness or ability to stop oneself from scratching, can all lead to uncontrolled night-time scratching.
Wearing protective clothing or cotton gloves can help to prevent night-time scratching. Many parents recommend brands such as Skinnies, Scratch Sleeves or Dermasilk for comfortable night-time protective clothes.
7. Be aware of triggers
Certain environmental triggers can cause your child to feel more itchy. If you can work on identifying what your child’s triggers are, you may be able to put measures in place to remove or minimise their impact. Common triggers include:
· Heat
· Tight synthetic clothing
· Stress
· Sweat
Do you have any tactics to break the itch-scratch cycle? If you do, we’d love to hear from you.
The Emollin Range
Whether you are looking to soften and relieve the symptoms of dry skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and ichthyosis, or looking for protection from external irritants, find out how Emollin has been designed to soothe your skin while fitting in with your life.
The Emollin range is available to shop online.