Dear Moira,
My little boy is suffering really badly just now from itching. His skin is quite clear and there are no inflamed bits but he won’t stop scratching. All day and night he is clawing at his skin. We have to keep his nails very short so he can’t break the skin easily but he is still so itchy and it’s making him miserable.
We have gel packs we hold on the itchy bits and have tried spoons on the back of his knees but nothing seems to help. Is there anything else you can recommend? We are desperate!
From
Sophie
Hi Sophie,
I am really sorry to hear your son is struggling so badly. We all know how infuriating it can be to have an itch, so can only imagine how it must feel to be itchy all day and night.
I’m not a medical professional but we work closely with doctors and nurses to make sure our advice is up to date.
Nurses we have spoken to say that sometimes the skin looks clear but the eczema is still active beneath the surface and there is still inflammation causing an itch. Some have mentioned that if you close your eyes and rub the skin, you it might feel different to skin that isn’t affected.
If there is still an itch, the eczema is still active and needs to be treated. If it’s affecting sleep a lot or having an impact on daily life, it’s worth returning to the GP to explain and ask for advice/a new treatment.
You’ve already mentioned some of the itch strategies like the spoon or gel pack but I have a few more suggestions.
- At night, the itch can be worse so keeping cool is important. Opt for lighter covers, buy a fan, chose a gel pillow over feather or synthetic stuffing and – this sounds like a crazy idea but feedback has been good – you could keep pyjamas in the fridge before bedtime for optimum cooling effect.
- Many children wear pyjamas with scratch mitts built in so they can’t break the skin easily. There are a few providers including Scratchsleeves and some people manage to get these on prescription so you could ask your GP.
- If you are applying creams just before bed, try applying them earlier in the day. Thick cream and then pyjamas on top can be like a greenhouse effect and trap heat in.
- Maybe dust is affecting his skin, so you could put a sheet over the bed during the day so dust and pollen can’t gather and a shower or wipe down after playing with any known triggers could help that itch.
- Also, during an itchy phase, keeping the hands busy with fidget toys or distracting with an activity and reminding to pat/tap the skin instead of scratching.
I hope some of these tips help and your son gets some relief.
