People who don’t have eczema will never really understand just how itchy it can be. It’s that clawing at your skin, wiggling in your chair, can barely think about anything else type of itchy.

You can’t resist a good scratch every now and then (hey, we don’t blame you), but that only provides temporary relief. And here’s the real kicker: Scratching can actually make things even worse.

So, what are you supposed to do to get some much-needed itch relief for eczema? We have a few ideas for you.

Why does eczema itch so much?

First things first, it’s worth understanding why exactly eczema causes that relentless itching. Turns out, there’s actually quite a bit happening in your skin that inspires that tingling or burning feeling.

As the National Eczema Association explains, it all comes back to your nerves. Nerve endings (called C fibers) in the epidermis, which is the very top layer of your skin, are stimulated by different factors. That could include dry skin, external irritants and chemicals, or even eczema flare-ups.

When those nerve endings are stimulated, it sends a message to your brain that essentially says, “Hey, this itches!” and then you automatically respond by scratching at that area.

Does eczema spread if you scratch it?

That initial scratch provides at least a little bit of itch relief in the moment, but it’s actually part of a vicious cycle.

When you give into the almost undeniable urge to scratch at your eczema, it inspires even more inflammation in your body—which can cause your eczema rash to become even larger. Facet Medical Director Dr. Peter Young refers to this as the “itch-scratch-itch cycle,” meaning the more you scratch, the more you end up itching.

How do you keep itchy eczema from spreading all over your body?

Nobody wants to deal with an eczema flare-up, and the last thing you need is for it to continue to spread. Here comes the piece of advice that’s bound to make you groan: The best way to prevent eczema from spreading is to avoid scratching.

We know—it’s way easier said than done when it feels like there are fire ants crawling under your skin. But, keep in mind that scratching will only make your problem worse. To cut down on your natural urge to scratch, you might find it helpful to:

• Cover your eczema patches with loose and soft clothing
• Keep your fingernails short
• Wear eczema sleeves or cotton gloves

None of those will address the actual itch (we’ll get to how to stop the eczema itch in a moment), but will reduce your temptation and serve as subtle reminders that you don’t want to continuously rub at your irritated skin.

So, what works to stop itchy eczema?

It’s a cruel cycle: Your skin itches, so you scratch it. Then it itches more, so you scratch more, and the itch worsens and spreads. And then you want to itch more…and you get where we’re going with this.

Sigh. How can you actually get some itch relief for eczema (and stop it from spreading to boot)? Let’s take a closer look at a few things you can try broken into two different categories: medications and home remedies.

Medications for ezcema itch

Want to leave your itch relief up to the wonders of modern medicine? There are several different prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) treatment options that can help. These include:

• Topical corticosteroid creams or ointments: These solutions are applied directly to the affected area of the skin. They work to repair your skin’s barrier while also easing your itching. Be aware that you’ll need a prescription.
• Oral corticosteroids: Just like the above, these are corticosteroids—but, you’ll take them orally rather than applying them to your skin. These help to control inflammation (which is contributing to your itching) and are usually reserved for severe cases of eczema, meaning you’ll need a prescription.
• Oral antihistamines: Yep, the same type of antihistamine you take for your allergies or hay fever could help with your eczema. It won’t do much in the way of actual treatment, but it can help to ease your itch. You can get antihistamines like cetirizine and diphenhydramine over the counter. (P.S Are allergies making you miserable? Take the Picnic Allergy quiz and get relief from allergy symptoms.)
• Anti-itch creams: Prescription-strength corticosteroid creams and ointments are going to be your most effective option, but if you don’t have a prescription, an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream could help. Make sure to look for one that contains at least 1% hydrocortisone for the most relief.

But we shouldn’t rule out home remedies either.

Home remedies for eczema itch

The right medications will definitely help take the edge off. But, combining them with some natural home remedies can kick your itch relief up another notch:

• Use a cool compress or ice pack: Soak a washcloth in ice-cold water and wring it out until it’s damp. Gently press that washcloth onto your itchy skin. You could also wrap an ice pack in a towel if you don’t want to deal with a damp cloth. That cold temperature can mitigate some of your itching, which research suggests has to do with those nerve endings that are triggering your itch. According to Dr. Peter Young, Facet’s Medical Director, “Skim milk compresses also work very well. However whole milk doesn’t—possibly because of their differing pH levels.”
• Take a warm bath: Make sure the water isn’t too hot—you want it warm, but not steaming (as too hot of water can dry out your skin and make your skin itchier). For even more soothing relief, add baking soda or uncooked oatmeal into the tub. Soak for 10-15 minutes, pat yourself dry, and then apply a gentle, unscented moisturizer.
• Apply moisturizer or petroleum jelly: Speaking of moisturizer, keeping your skin hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to keep your eczema itching at least somewhat under control. It’s best to look for an unscented moisturizer to avoid any other triggers like fragrances and harsh chemicals. Other people swear that a thick layer of petroleum jelly is the best thing you can apply to your itchy skin. Try keeping your moisturizer or petroleum jelly in the fridge to benefit from the moisture and a cooling sensation.

Try a few of these the next time you find yourself wanting to itch to see if they work for you.

Find a way to soothe your scratching

Most people who deal with eczema will quickly admit that the constant itchiness is one of the most frustrating and uncomfortable symptoms. And knowing that your natural urge to scratch only makes it worse? Well, it can feel like a rare form of torture.

While there’s no cure for eczema, there are treatment options available that can help you control your symptoms—including that relentless eczema itch.

So, don’t feel like you need to tie your hands behind your back or wrap them in bubble wrap. Use a combination of medications and home remedies to get some soothing relief for your itching.