Perhaps the worst symptom of eczema is the itching. It is typically the first symptom to appear and the last to go away. Unfortunately, scratching the itch can make the eczema far worse. If your child is suffering from eczema, it is important that you learn to stop their scratching.
There is simply nothing worse you can do to your skin other than scratch. It may seem to provide eczema relief but it really only causes more extreme damage. The scratching tears at the skin, causing the eczema to go deeper into the skin. The deeper wounds take longer to heal, are more likely to scar, and increase the risk of infection.
The repercussions of scratching are even greater in children. Their skin is much more delicate. Also, they are less likely to restrain themselves and may cause greater damage when scratching. Therefore, knowing how to treat eczema in children means controlling your child’s scratching.
During the day, the most successful method to prevent a child’s scratching is distraction. There are many methods you can use to distract a child. If they begin to scratch, you can give them a favorite toy or special treat. You can also engage them in a game or activity that requires both hands, such as playing ball or riding a bicycle.
Stopping scratching at night is a little more difficult. You cannot monitor your child in their bed and they have nothing to distract them. They could spend all night scratching and you would not know it until the morning.
You may have to use physical techniques to prevent nighttime scratching. Very young children can simply wear mittens. Older children can easily remove mittens. Knee socks might be a better solution. They should extend past the child’s elbows and be difficult for your child to remove. It may take a couple of nights before your child is adjusted to the socks, but the disturbed sleep will be a small price to pay if you can heal your child’s eczema more quickly and safely.
