All about itches and scratching

Itching is one of your skin’s defence mechanisms. It’s a kind of early warning that something might be about to happen.

When a bug or a bit of dust lands on your skin, for example, a few tiny nerve endings in the dermis (the middle layer of your skin) get irritated and send a signal to your spinal cord and then to your brain.

Your brain then ‘tells’ your fingers to go to the itchy spot and remove the bug, dust or other irritant with your fingernails. This is a great way to avoid getting bitten by bugs, but isn’t such a good idea when you have eczema or some other itchy skin condition.

In these cases, you scratch a much bigger area than the irritant is affecting and often damage your skin, leading to even more sensitivity and itching in the future and broken, bleeding patches.

Why does scratching feel so good? Because it causes a small amount of pain, which distracts you from the annoying itch!

How to be a bit less itchy

• Use an emollient such as Epaderm® Cream to keep your skin moist and make it less itchy.
• Keep fingernails short and smooth to avoid damaging your skin when applying emollient or if you have to scratch.
• Stay cool. Don’t get hot and sweaty at home – and choose cotton and other natural fibres for clothing and bedding, rather than man-made.
• Use non-bio washing powders and perfume-free fabric softeners.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom and wash your hands after touching them.
• Don’t have your bath water too hot. After a bath, use a soft towel to gently pat yourself dry.
• Be aware of the events and places that make you itch more, and change your routine to avoid them.