This is one of the most common phases of a mother with a child with eczema. However telling someone with an itch not to scratch is a waste of breath. You just can’t help it.
The reasons for not scratching are numerous. The more you scratch the worse the itch will become. This results in more scratching and then more itching and so it goes on.
Chronic scratching results in long term skin damage as the skin produces extra layers in an attempt to protect itself. The result is thickened and often scarred skin.
Most importantly is the risk of infection. Repeated scratching can break the skin allowing an infection to set in on top of the eczema. Antibiotic treatments, either topical or oral are required to control the infection and allow the skin to heal.
It really is important that we try not to scratch – regardless of how difficult that may be.