Ways to Relieve Itch from Eczema

Chronic dry, itchy skin is a universal symptom of eczema. For people with eczema, the itch is often the worst part of dealing with this skin condition. It can be incessant and all-consuming both day and night. Itching can affect many aspects of your life, including daily functioning. It can cause you to miss days of work or school, disturb your sleep and affect your mental health.¹ Treating itch caused by eczema can also be very costly.²

Itch is present in all seven types of eczema. But depending on the type of eczema, the cause and treatment for itch may vary.

For atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, nearly 100% of people report itch as one of their major symptoms.³ In fact, many people in the eczema field refer to atopic dermatitis as “the itch that rashes.”⁴ This means that the intense itch of atopic dermatitis leads to scratching, which results in a visible skin rash.⁴

If you have very itchy skin that doesn’t go away, you should see a doctor or dermatologist to determine the cause. When getting an eczema diagnosis from your doctor or a dermatologist you might hear them refer to “pruritus,” which is the scientific term for itch.³ Skin itch from eczema is different from itch caused by environmental allergies. Because of this, common medications used for itch, such as antihistamines, do not work well on the itch associated with eczema.

Your skin is your first line of defense against the outside world to fend off germs, chemicals and more.⁵  When you have eczema, your skin barrier may be weakened, leading to more itchiness. Strengthening your skin barrier can help prevent or treat eczema and your itch.⁵

What is the itch-scratch cycle?

Eczema flares are frequently triggered by the “itch-scratch” cycle. This cycle is when itching leads to scratching, which results in the release of inflammatory mediators, which results in more dry skin and the need to itch.⁴

Does scratching help eczema?

According to researchers, itch and pain have a yin-yang relationship. When pain is present, the feeling of itch subsides.⁴ That’s why scratching can relieve the feeling of itchy skin because it causes low-grade pain.⁴ But the relief from scratching is temporary and can cause more problems, such as scarring or a more severe itch. Too much scratching can lead to more eczema, thickened skin and infections if the surface of the skin is broken.

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The first step to managing itchy skin is to reduce the risk of it happening in the first place. Whether it’s atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis or dyshidrotic eczema, getting your eczema under control overall can help relieve itch. This can be done through a daily bathing and moisturizing routine and using prescription medications as prescribed by your doctor.

To help manage your eczema, follow these three basic steps to care for your skin.

1. Bathe regularly

Taking a bath or shower is helpful for eczema. It helps remove potential irritants. Bathing once per day is recommended. Key recommendations for bathing with eczema:

• Use lukewarm water, not hot water
• Use a fragrance- and dye-free, gentle cleanser for sensitive skin
• Do not rub or scrub skin with a washcloth or loofah
• Pat the skin dry with a towel
• Apply moisturizer within 4 minutes of getting out of the shower or bath while skin is still slightly moist

2. Moisturize often

Regular moisturizing of skin is important for eczema. Moisturized skin helps relieve dryness and itching, and it helps to restore the skin barrier, keeping out irritants and allergens. Key recommendations for moisturizing:

• Moisturize at least once daily, and ideally three to four times a day
• Apply moisturizer liberally
• Key times to moisturize: After bathing, washing hands, or whenever skin starts to feel itchy or dry
• Choose moisturizers that are fragrance-free
• Ointments or creams that contain ceramides may also help with eczema itch

3. Avoid common triggers

Skin affected by eczema is very sensitive, and it can flare with exposure to different environmental and lifestyle triggers. A flare is when symptoms are more exacerbated and intense. These symptoms and/or side effects from prolonged itchiness can last many days or even several weeks.

Eczema triggers will often be different for everyone with rarely just one trigger being responsible for every flare. It’s helpful to identify what is triggering your flare so you can avoid them as much as possible. Your doctor can help you identify your triggers and guide you on how to avoid them as much as possible.

Common triggers include:

• Fabrics: Wool, latex, synthetic fabrics
• Metals: Chromium, cobalt chloride, copper, gold, nickel
• Pets and insects: Pet dander, cockroaches, insect bites and stings
• Environment: Pollen, dust mites, mold, cigarette smoke
• Weather: Changing temperatures, humidity, extreme heat or cold
• Fragrance: Perfumes, other scented products
• Stress: Life stressors, new challenges, anxiety

Different triggers require different strategies for avoiding them. For example, if your eczema is triggered by environmental factors, you can try to avoid sitting on grass, plastic chairs, or rough carpet and upholstery with bare legs. Consider wearing long pants or sit on a towel or mat to avoid these surfaces on your bare skin. If your eczema is triggered by fragrance, don’t use soaps or lotions with perfumes or fragrance.

Browse eczema-friendly products

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Stopping the itch can be a complicated process, but it is possible. To stop itchy skin, it’s important to understand the cause, accompanying symptoms, treatment options and prevention steps for the future.

Here are general tips for itch relief from various types of eczema:

1. Apply a cold compress or ice pack: When your skin is itchy, your body temperature is often higher than it should be. Applying a cold compress or ice pack can bring your temperature down, decreasing the intensity of the itch and/or your skin pain.⁶
2. Pinch and pat the itchy skin (rather than scratching): While scratching brings temporary relief, it’s not good in the long run. Scratched skin will only be itchier and could lead to blisters and scarring. When you feel the urge to scratch, pinch and pat the skin instead.⁶
3. Wear soft, breathable, natural clothing next to your skin: What you wear can make you itchier. Choose soft, breathable clothing made of natural materials to help stop the itch and help prevent future cases of irritated skin.⁶ Using a gentle detergent can also help clothing feel better against your skin.
4. Try wet wrap therapy: Similar to applying a cold compress, wet wrap therapy impacts your body temperature in order to fight against the itch. For this treatment, you moisten a cotton dressing so it’s slightly damp. Wrap it around the affected area. Wrap a dry dressing over the wet one. Put clothes over the layers to keep the bandages in place. You can wear it for two hours or overnight.
5. Soak in a colloidal oatmeal bath: Soak in a colloidal oatmeal to help relieve itch.⁶
6. Protect yourself from night-time scratching: Cotton gloves or cutting fingernails short can help protect the skin from night-time scratching.⁶
7. Try the soak and seal method: Many healthcare providers recommend the soak and seal method to combat dry skin and reduce flares. This method can be done several times a week and involves three steps: bathing, applying topical medications to affected areas and moisturizing the rest of the body.
8. Sleep in a humid room: During winter, indoor heating can dry the air more than normal. A humidifier might help you sleep, because there’s more moisture in the air, helping to keep your skin from drying out.⁷

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Tips to Manage the Itch of Eczema

Dr. Jennifer LeBovidge, a psychologist at the Atopic Dermatitis Center and the Food Allergy Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, talks about ways to manage the itch-scratch cycle of eczema. She offers helpful language and intervention strategies to tackle that frustrating itch.

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Over-the-counter medicines

While antihistamines like Benadryl stop the itch sensation of skin allergies, they do not work for eczema. However, healthcare providers may suggest antihistamines to help with sleep as some can make you drowsy.

Prescription treatments

Topical and immunosuppressant medications reduce symptoms of itch. Topical steroids are often used to stop itch and inflammation so the skin can start to heal. For more severe cases of eczema that do not improve with topical medications, doctors may prescribe injectable biologics, oral medications and/or phototherapy.

Learn more about eczema treatments

Acupuncture and alternative medicine

Acupuncture is an alternative medicine solution to itch, which has shown to be safe and effective in studies and has been used as a treatment method in China for over 2,500 years.¹⁰ During your appointment, an acupuncturist applies needles along meridian points on the body to relieve pain and itch.

Psychological interventions

Stress can exacerbate itch, and telling someone to stop itching can increase their stress and lead to more itching.⁶ Psychological interventions that educate patients on the origins of itch and provide them with coping strategies and habit-reversal techniques have been shown to reduce itching and scratching.

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Atopic dermatitis

Bleach baths can be an effective tool for managing atopic dermatitis. Taking a bleach bath — a bath with lukewarm water and bleach — two to three times per week may help reduce the inflammation and itch associated with atopic dermatitis, as well as reduce the amount of Staphylococcus aureus (or “staph”) bacteria living on the skin which can increase the risk of infection. Before you try a bleach bath for yourself or your child, please consult with your healthcare provider first. They can help you decide if it is a good option for you.

Melatonin might also be an option to help you stop itching and get to sleep at night. Researchers found that 3 milligrams of melatonin a day led to improved sleep onset and a decrease in eczema severity in children with atopic dermatitis.¹¹ However, sleep medicines should be used under the guidance of a physician, especially in children.

Topical treatments for atopic dermatitis are also effective treatments for itch.¹² Topical medications such as such as topical steroids, crisaborole, topical calcineurin inhibitors, topical Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors (such as ruxolitinib) and topical PDE4 inhibitors (such as roflumilast) have also been shown to quickly reduce itch in mild to moderate atopic dermatitis.¹³

Contact dermatitis

Since contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to an irritant or allergen, often removing or avoiding contact with the irritant or allergen can relieve the itch.¹⁴ If not, emollients and topical corticosteroids can be effective treatment for itch.¹⁴

Dyshidrotic eczema

Most cases of dyshidrotic eczema can go away within a few weeks of starting topical corticosteroids combined with cool compresses to dry out blisters.¹⁵ Your doctor might also prescribe an anti-fungal medication if a fungal infection is present and contributing to your itch.¹⁶

Neurodermatitis

Unlike atopic dermatitis and other forms of eczema, neurodermatitis is concentrated to one part of the body, such as a patch of skin on the hand or neck. Often a prescribed medication is needed to treat this type of eczema. Depending on the severity, corticosteroids can help calm inflammation and itch associated with neurodermatitis. Non-steroidal topicals such as calcineurin inhibitors and ointments made with salicylic acid can also be used to control itch. Your dermatologist might also prescribe medicated patches that contain lidocaine, a numbing agent, or an oral medication, such as an antihistamine.

Once the itching is brought under control and the skin heals, the symptoms of neurodermatitis typically improve.

Nummular eczema

The itch from nummular eczema can be treated with a mid- or high-potency topical corticosteroid. Your doctor might also prescribe tacrolimus ointment, pimecrolimus cream or tar cream for treatment.¹⁷

Seborrheic dermatitis

If the scalp or hairline is itchy from seborrheic dermatitis, doctors typically recommend either a prescription anti-fungal shampoo or an over-the-counter dandruff shampoo.¹⁸ Some of the best nonprescription dandruff shampoos include those with:

• Pyrithione zinc and selenium sulfide¹⁹
• Ketoconazole 1%¹⁹
• Tar¹⁹
• Tea tree oil¹⁹
• Salicylic acid¹⁹

Stasis dermatitis

With stasis dermatitis, oral antihistamines and topical corticosteroids are often used to reduce itching.²⁰  Treating the severity of the underlying stasis dermatitis is often the first goal of treatment with this type of eczema, as this type is caused by poor blood circulation, often within the legs.²⁰