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05/07/2011
Top tips to stop eczema itching.
We need as many tools in our toolbox as possible to control that consuming itching that keeps us awake and wrecks lives. Some research in June 2011 the Atlanta VA Medical Center concluded that chronic itching is as debilitating as chronic pain, both impacting our quality of life.
This is your first aid list for times of desperation when you need help fast. Scratching is the nightmare of all eczema sufferers so these tips will help you find temporary relief. I’ve tested all these and they all work some of the time. Experiment and we’ll focus on getting your eczema much better so you don’t need to worry about the itching. You can use a combination of these tips
1. Break the pattern. You need to distract you mind so if you’re in bed, get out, go to another room, maybe get a drink or snack. I make a cup of tea, do a couple of tasks or read a little then go back to bed. I usually sleep then. Later she used to get me knitting so my hands were occupied so I thought less about scratching! Do something different for a while to allow yourself to calm down.
2. Cool down as quickly as you can. When I was little, my mum used to walk around the garden with me at night to get me cool again. If you have eczema, especially at night, the whole bed heats up and it’s very difficult to cool down again. Putting your feet or hands in a bowl of cold water for a couple of minutes can really help.
3. Drink LOTS of cold water… it really does help you cool you down quickly and seems to dilute whatever is driving your skin mad.
4. Ice cubes - Make an icepack by putting ice cubes in plastic bag. Seal the bag and wrap it up in a thin tea towel or cloth and place it on itchy areas for a minute or so. Equally you can find a cold, smooth stone or bottle and hold that on irritated skin.
5. My most recent discovery is Execzema wipes. Especially when you’ve been exposed to something that’s irritating your skin, these are antibacterial but also 99.8% water and so soothing. When your skin is irritated they never sting and are beautifully calming. I find that when I’m been gardening, they wipe all the itchy stuff away. If you’re itchy top to toe, I’ve found a shower with Execzema Rub will leave me feeling much less irritated. This does the same job as an antibacterial rub but much more gently and the developer found users were reporting their eczema had cleared after just 2 weeks of using the rub.
6. Chamomile - drink the tea and then make a solution, either soak itchy areas in it or apply a compress to itchy areas for a few minutes.
7. Cider vinegar - Make a compress of smooth cloth such as an old handkerchief of shirt. In a bowl put one teaspoonful (5ml) cider vinegar and three tablespoons of cold water. Soak the cloth in the water and apply to the itchy areas.
8. Milk. Pour milk into a small bowl with ice cubes and let it chill. Pour the milk on a gauze pad or thin piece of cotton and place on the irritated skin for a few minutes. Then remove, re-soak the cloth and apply again. Continue the process for about 10 minutes and see how you are. Any milk will do, cow or goat. My downloadable book talks extensively about allergies and how they can be avoided. Click here to download the book now.
9. Oatmeal baths - Fill a sock with a couple of handfuls of oats and place them under a running hot tap. Stay in the bath as long as it makes you feel good. You can use the sock afterwards to rub onto itchy areas.
10.Antihistamines – we need these so don’t deprive yourself. They keep us sane in difficult times. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for personal advice to find an antihistamine to suit you as there are many on the market and different medications suit different people. If your itching is still acute, ask to try a different medication and dose until you get the right one for you. It is very difficult to function and recover unless your itching is controlled so make this a priority in the short term while you get your skin better.
11.Pure cotton sheets, preferably Egyptian cotton. Polycotton sheets that most people use now just aren’t as cool and comfortable when you’re itchy. The silkier and softer the better. They may need washing every day if you are scratching and bleeding but it’s worth it. Sinking into a bed with soft, smooth sheets feels so much better when your skin is driving you mad and you may already be dreading going to bed at night.
12.Silk clothing is wonderful and has actually been found to help heal eczema without other intervention. Silk sleep suits for children are a dream and actually seem to moisturise the skin.
13.Lie on a cold floor for a few minutes. If you’re lucky enough to have a cold floor in your house, give it a quick clean and lie on it. There’s nothing more soothing when your body is hot, bothered and itchy than a few minutes on a cold marble, slate or tiled surface.
14.What’s irritating you? This could be something you’ve eaten or come in contact with that you’re sensitive to OR is someone driving you mad, really getting under your skin? A couple of times when I’ve been absolutely furious with someone or a situation, I’ve gone red very rapidly. As if my blood was boiling. For much more help with both sensitivities to substances or situations, have a look at my eBook.
15.Careful of emollients. It’s quite possible to become sensitised to emollients and even steroid creams. If you’re not recovering, try a control test. Leave an area without products and see how it reacts. I’ve managed to wean myself off all my emollients as I found they were causing more irritation. It took a while but my skin now is able to moisturize itself again. For more information on this, read this chapter on my website.
16.Cucumber. Cutting a slice and rubbing it on can be a help for some sufferers. Initially it can tickle more but resist scratching, put something cool on the area and the itch will usually subside in a few minutes.
17.Redbush tea. I discovered this when I decided to give up caffeine and tannin several years ago as these substances can irritate the skin and I wanted to avoid them. I was looking for a tea that had some substance and could give me the comfort of the traditional British cup with milk. Redbush is great for itching too and has been tested in South Africa and Japan and found to have anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s recommended for those suffering from digestive problems such as IBS and people with allergies. Babies with colic can also be given this tea to drink. Strong tea can be added to a bath, used to make a compress and applied to the skin or simply a tea bag can be rubbed on itchy areas.
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