Part 2
What does scratching do to my skin?
Noticing your Behaviour.
What does scratching do to your skin?
Noticing your behaviour
This is because scratching makes your skin release chemicals. This makes you feel even more itchy, which makes you want to scratch more!
This is called the itch-scratch cycle.
Scratching and rubbing can worsen the itch.
Scratching can also damage your skin. This can make it bleed or let bugs in so it can get infected. Damaged skin also lets water escape more easily which can cause dryness.
Damaged skin can feel itchy while it is healing. This can add to the itch-scratch cycle.
What does scratching do to your skin?
Noticing your behaviour
Does the programme work?
"As I got older I found what works to help control that itch."
Jake's story
Itch is the sensation,
What we feel
This makes you want to scratch.
Scratching is the behaviour,
What we do
It is any touching of our skin that we do again and again, rubbing and picking is the same.
What does scratching do to your skin?
Noticing your behaviour
Noticing your behaviour
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.
chronic
Noticing your behaviour
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.
The itch scratch cycle
Noticing your behaviour
Damaged
skin barrier
Noticing your behaviour
Damaged
skin barrier
Irritants /
Allergens
Noticing your behaviour
Inflammation
Damaged
skin barrier
Irritants /
Allergens
Noticing your behaviour
Itch
Damaged
skin barrier
Inflammation
Irritants /
Allergens
Noticing your behaviour
Damaged
skin barrier
Irritants /
Scratching
Itch
Inflammation
Allergens
Breaking 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.
habit
The first step to stop scratching is to start noticing when we scratch.
Learn why, when and where you scratch.
Interrupt your scratching.
Refocus.
Notice your scratching Breaking the cycle
This helps us to:
Notice your scratching Breaking the cycle
Noticing when we scratch may take a bit of time to get used to but it is an important first step.
If you think you might not be able to notice, you might need an adult or someone else, to help you know when you have scratched. Over time, this can help you notice too.
You may be scratching now as you read this, just notice how many times you do it!
You should record your scratching as soon as you realise you are scratching.
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
Don’t worry if you miss your first few scratches, start recording them as soon as you can.
To get an idea of how many times you scratch, you should pick a time in the day when you think you scratch more.
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
Twice a week and for one hour at the weekend.
A fixed time after school (for example, from 4pm to 6pm).
Twice a week for an hour at school.
Here are some ideas of times and places where you can notice and record your scratching:
Are there any other times or places you scratch more? Keep a record of your scratching there.
As soon as you notice you feel itchy and start scratching you should record it as a scratch.
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
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).
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
When you notice that you start to scratch you should use the counter on your mobile or the clicker counter to make a note of this in your booklet.
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
If you scratch one part of your body once, this is one scratch. If you scratch another part of your body this is a second scratch.
Scratch arm = 1 scratch.
Scratch arm + leg = 2 scratches.
Scratch arm + leg + chest = 3 scratches.
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
As the video shows for each scratch as shown record this on the counter.
Click to start watching
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
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...
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
Some people scratch more when they feel stressed and are doing homework.
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
Some people scratch more when they watch television because they may be bored.
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
Some people scratch more when in bed because they are worrying about things.
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
When we figure out why you scratch we can help you to reduce the scratching in these times.
Everyone scratches in different places, for different reasons. Can you think of other times you may scratch in?
Record your scratching Breaking the cycle
When you notice that you start to scratch you should use the counter on your mobile or the clicker counter to make a note of this in your booklet.
Remember to notice and record your scratching this week.
Thanks for completing Part 2!
In the next part, we will find out more about things you can do to stop you from scratching.
