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The long and short of it is that nothing can heal while it is being scratched. The skin needs 3 weeks of absolutely no scratching to allow it to heal. Steroid creams and moisturiser will help this, but it is eventually no scratching that will heal. Very tough, I know, but essential. Dr Webberley

Hi,

Apart from applying 1 per cent hydrocortisone cream and emollients, as Dr. Webberley suggests, you may find that one of the following helps relieve the itching:

Try adding oatmeal to your bath - it contains fats and avenanthramides which are anti-inflammatory and also have an anti-itching effect. Put a couple of handfuls of oats in a white cotton handkerchief, a muslin cloth, or a pair of tights and tie tightly. Either attach the bundle to the bath tap so the water can run through it, or throw it in the bath as it fills.

Try adding baking soda to your bath; throw one or two cups into the bath as it runs. Alternatively, you can make a paste by mixing the baking soda with a little water and then apply that to the affected areas.

You could also try to alleviate the problem from the inside out, so to speak, by supplementing your diet ; evening primrose oil (EPO) contains omega 6 fats, which are thought to block the pathway of chemical messengers called prostaglandins, which are linked to inflammation and itching. Fish oils contain omega 3 fats which are also thought to be anti-inflammatory. You can buy supplements that contain both - such as Boots Omega Oils 3,6, 9 - which only cost £12.29 for 6 months supply. You should also eat foods that supply these healthy fats e.g.. oily fish such as sardines, mackerel and salmon, nuts, seeds, eggs and olive oil.

I hope these tips help you to find relief from the itching.

Wendy

Dear Sasha,

Thank you for your question. I think the most important to get your eczema under control. You may want to see your family doctor or dermatologist to use appropriate strength and duration of steroid ointments. Sometimes we use tacrolimus (protopic) ointment or pimecrolimus (elidel) cream as steroid sparing treatments. Sometimes we use phototherapy. One in 20 patients may require strong medicines e.g. azathioprine or ciclosporin which have to be administered under strict blood tests monitoring because they are so powerful. If you would like to read more about eczema management you can go to: www.alexandroff.org.uk

I hope this is helpful.
With best wishes,

Dr Anton Alexandroff MCP(UK) CCT(Dermatology) FAAD FRSM
Consultant Dermatologist in Leicester Spire and Nuffield Health Hospitals and University Hospitals of Leicester
Member of the British Association of Dermatologists
www.alexandroff.org.uk

twitter: your_skin_dr
Blog: http://privatehealthnews.co.uk/author/a-alexandroff/
blog/ information for patients: http://leicester-dermatologist.blogspot ... blogs.html

Dr Helen Webberley wrote:The long and short of it is that nothing can heal while it is being scratched. The skin needs 3 weeks of absolutely no scratching to allow it to heal. Steroid creams and moisturiser will help this, but it is eventually no scratching that will heal. Very tough, I know, but essential. Dr Webberley

Habit reversal is a simple easy-to-understand method for dealing with the very common cause of resistant eczema: habitual scratching.
Please find out more at www.atopicskindisease.com