If you are inflicted with severe eczema, it can drive you really crazy with the intense itching. Scratching your skin can hardly stop but may just worsen your condition when you introduce bacteria through your nails. So, how do you stop yourself from scratching? Read on if you wish to find out how best you can reduce or stop scratching.
The best way on how to stop scratching is to prevent it. To prevent it you should not allow your skin get to the point where it is itching like crazy. The first rule of eczema care is to keep your skin well hydrated and moist. Pamper your skin so that you will not have bad flare-ups. The time that you put into it now, will more than pay off in decreased flare-ups and itching. Use gentle and mild products and use an emollient regularly.
Emollients work to keep your skin moist. There are many different formulas of emollients, like lotions, creams, oils, and ointments. You will need to try different emollients in order to find the most suitable one for our skin.
How to stop scratching with season changes is also something that you will have to deal with. When your skin becomes dry, you tend to itch and therefore scratch more. You should therefore, use a cream during the winter months because it is thicker in consistency and will stay on the skin longer in the dry air. In the summer, a lotion or emollient will work. It is important that you always use a moisturizer without added scent or alcohol.
Some eczema sufferers take a colloidal oatmeal bath when they are itching. It has been found that this is quite effective. Aveeno makes a great oatmeal bath. Itchy, dry, inflamed skin loves colloidal oatmeal baths. You can even make your own bath mix using rolled oats from the grocery store. After your bath, you will need to apply a lotion of part cocoa butter and part colloidal oatmeal and then apply a touch of shea butter to your skin. All of these emollients together will help to make your skin soft and moist, therefore relieving the itching.
One of the most beneficial emollients that is available is called emu oil. This oil is great to help keep the skin moist and it also has some anti-inflammation and anti-itch properties as well. This is great for eczema flare-ups. Antibacterial properties are also found in this oil and it is great for the prevention of many different kinds of skin infections. How to stop scratching? Try emu oil.
Trimming your fingernails is another great way to address on how to stop scratching your eczema itch. This will help to keep you from causing a lot of damage to your skin if you do scratch. If your skin does have cracks or you cut it open when scratching, you need to be sure that you clean the wound, apply antibiotic cream, and then cover it until it starts to heal.
Most natural health experts believe that the way to stop scratching is to deal with the condition from the inside. One important factor is using diet to promote the growth and development of healthy skin. Supplements like Omega 3 or even Emu oil contain essential fatty acids necessary for good healthy skin. However, you will need to consume these supplements over a period of time before you can get to reap any benefits.
Itching also intensifies when you are under stress. Learn how to manage your stress and in consequence, keep your eczema under control. Take plenty of breaks, holidays and pamper yourself to a course of massage therapy sessions.
