Worsens eczema

Adds chronic eczema to acute eczema: the skin gets thicker and more inflamed –  the face, neck and hands are the easiest to scratch - so have the highest chance of getting chronic eczema

What does scratching do?

Prevents healing

Can introduce infection

Itch and scratching do not always go together!

A vicious cycle is formed. For your skin to heal we need to treat all parts of the cycle.

Scratching can become a habit so we need to work on learning new ways to manage the itch instead of scratching.

This will help break the cycle of itching and scratching.

The first step is to start noticing when we scratch.

This helps us to:

Learn why, when and where you scratch.

Interrupt your scratching.

Refocus.

insert video

Twice a week and for one hour at the weekend.

A fixed period after school.

Twice a week for an hour at school.

As soon as you notice you feel itchy and start scratching you should record it as a scratch.

A scratch can involve actually scratching with your nails, rubbing against something else or using something against your skin to scratch it (e.g. a hairbrush or comb).

In your booklet you will have space to record how many times you scratch and the situation you were in.

This helps you understand about why you might scratch. For example...

If you scratch when you are stressed...

try doing something to relax.

If you scratch when you are watching television, this may be a sign that you are bored...

try doing something else with your hands.

If you scratch when you are feeling angry...

try doing something that makes you calm.

If you scratch when you feel down in the dumps...

try doing something that makes you feel happy.

Once you know the times and reasons you scratch you can change what you do.

The next part will go through some ideas!

Activities to help you change your behaviour

Squeezing the lemons activity

1) Make a fist for 15 seconds

(imagine you are squeezing lemons and the juice is running through your fingers).

2) Think about a happy memory or do some deep breathing while 'squeezing the lemons'.

3) When you're done - Are you still feeling itchy?

4) If you are, repeat the squeezing the lemons activity.

5) Keep going until the itchy feeling goes away.

Claws into paws activity 

You can also think of putting your nails away by making a fist or imagining you are like a cat;

Turn your claws in into paws

You can also think of putting your nails away by making a fist or imagining you are like a cat;

Turn your claws in into paws

Deep breathing activity

To help you relax:

Take a deep breath in through your nose and push it down into your tummy.

Trace your hand activity

You can use your hand to focus your breathing.

Put one hand up in front of you.

Positive thinking activity

To help when you feel down

​Think about a happy memory or a place that makes you feel good - like the beach.

Sing a song or listen to some music.

Dance...

Jump up and down...

or play catch.

Distract your hands

If you feel bored or need to do something with your hands use a fidget toy such as a...

Fidget spinner

Stress ball

Blue tack

Fidget popper

Fidget spinner

Stress ball

Blue tack

Fidget popper

See how Rukshana found a fidget toy helpful.

5,4,3,2,1 activity

Thinking about each of your 5 senses can help you to stop thinking about your itch.

Lets see what you can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste.

5 Things you can see.

4 things you can touch.

3 things you can hear.

2 things you can smell.

1 thing you can taste.

5 Things you can see.

4 things you can touch.

3 things you can hear.

2 things you can smell.

1 thing you can taste.

5 things you can see.

4 things you can touch.

3 things you can hear.

2 things you can smell.

1 thing you can taste.

5 Things you can see.

4 things you can touch.

3 things you can hear.

2 things you can smell.

1 thing you can taste.

5 Things you can see.

4 things you can touch.

3 things you can hear.

2 things you can smell.

1 thing you can taste.