Why is My Skin so Itchy? 5 Tips for Managing Life with Eczema
Written by: Maureen Chang, HBSc
Living with eczema is not always easy. Your eczema may tend to flare-up for seemingly no reason, leaving you with the uncontrollable need to furiously scratch your skin, sometimes to the point of bleeding. The itching may even lead to many frustrating, sleepless nights. Perhaps the most frustrating part is being told “don’t scratch” by your well-intentioned loved ones. Unfortunately for people like us, not scratching your eczema is easier said than done. So, here are 5 practical tips for managing life with eczema and why they work.
1. Moisturizer is Medicine
Do not underestimate the power of moisturizer! A common misconception is that we should let our eczema patches “dry out”. However, eczema has been shown to heal more effectively when kept moisturized [1]. Eczema is often caused by a weakened skin barrier which allows dirt and debris into the skin. Moisturizer helps to restore your skin’s natural barrier and prevent further dryness and irritation. The best part is that a prescription is not needed! An effective moisturizing cream can be purchased at your local pharmacy for an affordable price. You can try out a ceramide-based moisturizer such as Cerave’s Moisturizing Cream or a colloidal oatmeal-based moisturizer such as Aveeno’s Eczema Care Itch Relief Balm. Both of these ingredients have been proven to soothe inflamed skin and relieve the symptoms of eczema [2,3]. Apply your cream frequently throughout the day and be generous with the amount. Make it easy for yourself by keeping a small bottle by your front door, in the car, on your work desk or in your bag. Moisturizer is medicine. Just make sure to use one that is fragrance free.
Bonus tip: At night-time, apply an occlusive moisturizer such as Vaseline to really lock in moisture! The original Vaseline is made of pure petroleum jelly which prevents water loss from the skin, keeping your skin hydrated [4]. However, if you prefer something a little lighter, Aquaphor or Cerave’s Healing Ointments are great options as well. All of these ointments are great for healing those cracked, flaky eczema patches.
2. Minimize Excessive Hand Washing
Of course, washing our hands is essential for proper hygiene. However, if you have eczema on your hands or fingers, this can make a big difference. Excessive hand washing actually strips our skin of its natural oils, causing increased dryness and irritation [5]. To prevent this as much as possible, wear gloves when washing dishes, cleaning or doing laundry. When you do have to wash your hands, try using a gentle, moisturizing cleanser instead of typical hand soap. Gentle cleansers such as Cerave’s Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser removes germs while not overly stripping the skin. For added protection, follow up with your moisturizer immediately after you wash your hands to reintroduce that moisture back into your skin.
3. Avoid Harsh Detergents and Scented Soaps
Did you know that your laundry detergent or body wash may be making your eczema worse [6]? Scented soaps may smell nice, but many laundry detergents and scented soaps use harsh fragrances and chemicals that can disrupt the skin barrier [6]. Those with eczema tend to have sensitive skin that may become inflamed when in contact with these harsh chemicals. So, avoiding products with added fragrances, dyes and preservatives can potentially lessen irritation and prevent flare ups. Try washing your clothes and bed sheets with a fragrance-free or hypoallergenic laundry detergent. You can also try swapping your bar soap for a fragrance-free, moisturizing body wash. When it comes to laundry detergent, a little goes a long way! One to three tablespoons of liquid detergent is usually enough.
4. Take Shorter, Cooler Showers
This one is hard. We all love the feeling of a long, hot shower after a long day of work. Unfortunately however, heat can be a huge trigger for flare-ups of eczema. Hot water has been shown to actually dry out the skin even more, leading to intensified redness and itchiness [7,8]. To prevent post-shower itching, try taking shorter showers with lukewarm/cool water instead. It may be tough to get used to at first, but this habit can really make a world of a difference for managing flare-ups. If you really love your hot showers, you can start by cooling your water temperature just at the end. Just make sure that you take these short, cool showers everyday to prevent excess sweat from aggravating your eczema even further, especially in the summer [9]. Just don’t forget to moisturize within 5 minutes of getting out of the bathtub to retain your body’s moisture!
5. Do Not Overuse Topical Corticosteroids
Topical steroid creams containing 1% hydrocortisone can be extremely effective in calming your eczema down quickly. However, this over the counter treatment should generally only be used on a consistent basis for up to two weeks unless directed otherwise by a doctor [10]. This is because long term use of topical hydrocortisone may cause many serious side effects, including burning, stinging, and thinning of the skin, all of which can make your eczema worse [10]. When it comes to topical corticosteroids, more does not mean better results. With that being said, hydrocortisone can be a fantastic short-term solution for those periods of extreme itchiness. If you do decide to use a topical steroid, make sure you only apply it to the affected areas after they have been cleaned. Do not use moisturizer or Vaseline at the same time you apply a topical steroid. Afterwards, wash the product off your fingers after application to prevent it from transferring to other parts of your body or face.
If your eczema starts to swell, produce pus or become very painful, make sure to seek your doctor immediately.
*Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. The products listed are provided as examples and are not affiliated with Grace Health Centre. Eczema varies from person to person, so please consult a healthcare professional or dermatologist before trying any new products or treatments to ensure they’re suitable for your specific needs.
References
- Nemeth V, Syed HA, Evans J. Eczema. [Updated 2024 Mar 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538209/
- Sobhan M, Hojati M, Vafaie SY, Ahmadimoghaddam D, Mohammadi Y, Mehrpooya M. The Efficacy of Colloidal Oatmeal Cream 1% as Add-on Therapy in the Management of Chronic Irritant Hand Eczema: A Double-Blind Study. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020 Mar 25;13:241-251. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S246021. PMID: 32273745; PMCID: PMC7103792.
- Spada F, Harrison IP, Barnes TM, Greive KA, Daniels D, Townley JP, Mostafa N, Fong AT, Tong PL, Shumack S. A daily regimen of a ceramide-dominant moisturizing cream and cleanser restores the skin permeability barrier in adults with moderate eczema: A randomized trial. Dermatol Ther. 2021 Jul;34(4):e14970. doi: 10.1111/dth.14970. Epub 2021 May 24. PMID: 33984185; PMCID: PMC8459234.
- Petroleum jelly: A comprehensive review of its history, uses, and safety. Kamrani, Payvand et al. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 90, Issue 4, 807 – 813
- Loh EW, Yew YW. Hand hygiene and hand eczema: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Contact Dermatitis. 2022 Oct;87(4):303-314. doi: 10.1111/cod.14133. Epub 2022 May 2. PMID: 35460528; PMCID: PMC9111880.
- Rinaldi AO, Li M, Barletta E, D’Avino P, Yazici D, Pat Y, Ward S, Burla D, Tan G, Askary N, Larsson R, Bost J, Babayev H, Dhir R, Gaudenzio N, Akdis M, Nadeau K, Akdis CA, Mitamura Y. Household laundry detergents disrupt barrier integrity and induce inflammation in mouse and human skin. Allergy. 2024 Jan;79(1):128-141. doi: 10.1111/all.15891. Epub 2023 Sep 27. PMID: 37766519.
- Y. Ishiuji, R.C. Coghill, T.S. Patel, A. Dawn, J. Fountain, Y. Oshiro, G. Yosipovitch, Repetitive scratching and noxious heat do not inhibit histamine‐induced itch in atopic dermatitis, British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 158, Issue 1, 1 January 2008, Pages 78–83, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.08281.x
- Herrero-Fernandez M, Montero-Vilchez T, Diaz-Calvillo P, Romera-Vilchez M, Buendia-Eisman A, Arias-Santiago S. Impact of Water Exposure and Temperature Changes on Skin Barrier Function. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 7;11(2):298. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020298. PMID: 35053992; PMCID: PMC8778033.
- Murota H, Yamaga K, Ono E, Katayama I. Sweat in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Allergol Int. 2018 Oct;67(4):455-459. doi: 10.1016/j.alit.2018.06.003. Epub 2018 Aug 3. PMID: 30082151.
- Education Announcement: Use of Topical Steroids for Eczema. National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/blog/warnings-for-topical-steroids-eczema/