Eczema: how to treat itching

Tools to guard against scratching

Here are a few tips to help soothe itching in children and adults every day:

• In younger children

It is recommended to keep their hands busy or let them wear cotton gloves at night. Calm children with massage or music. Offer them a stuffed animal they can scratch as often as they like, instead of scratching themselves.

• In older children

You can get them more involved and help them to build a real "anti-scratching kit". The majority of tools help to send a soothing message to the brain thanks to the cold sensation: thermal water spray, pressing the back of a spoon or a cold stone onto the skin, etc. You should definitely try personalizing these objects and putting them in the refrigerator for more effectiveness. The cold packs used at a picnic or those used to soothe certain pains can be placed on eczema plaques, taking care to place a cloth on the skin to protect against any cold burns. In the same way, try using packs of frozen peas: the bead structure helps to cling to all parts of the body and produce a light massage.

​Soothing itching in adults

Adults also look for solutions to stop scratching! The majority of methods described for children can be used in adults.

• Also try relaxation or sophrology.
• Sometimes dry skin itches and needs to be soothed quickly: always have a tube of emollient product on the nightstand, in your bag or in the fridge.
• Finally, to limit risk of infection and scarring due to itching, keep nails cut short.