Itchy skin can be a symptom of many diseases, so always consult your doctor. Usually, however, the cause of such a condition is dry skin and if there are no other changes apart from dry skin - concentrate on lubricating it.
The most common skin disease manifested byitching and dry skinisatopic dermatitis (AD)caused by various factors, including . irritants, dust mites, animal hair. The so-called epidermal barrier defect. The protective barrier is disturbed, therefore the skin is constantly dry and prone to irritation. In order to determine the cause of atopic dermatitis and to be able to eliminate the irritating factor from the environment of the child (or the diet), allergy tests (blood tests or, if the child is over 3 years old, skin tests) should be performed.
Itchy skin - what to do?
There are many moisturizing and lubricating preparations on the market called emollients, which, when used systematically, will relieve itching, and also lubricate and moisturize the skin.
Doctors prescribe ointments with steroids and antihistamines to alleviate inflammatory changes. For skin care, use only preparations intended for atopic skin (bath lotions, cleansers, creams and lotions). Sometimes, before you find the right preparation, you have to try a lot - skin with atopic dermatitis is not easy and sometimes not all emollients suit it.
Parents of children with atopic dermatitis also eagerly use home methods. Many praise bathing a child in water with the addition of natural starch, i.e. potato flour. The use of evening primrose oil is also recommended.
What about itching?It is good to have Fenistil drops or Fenistil gel (ointment for itchy skin), lime or antihistamines prescribed by a doctor in the pharmacy.
Itchy skin caused by parasites
It is worth knowing that itchy skin can accompanyparasitic diseases . Therefore, in the case of children, it is worth having a stool test for parasites once a year. We must check the stools if the child has, apart from itching, lack of appetite, constant craving for sweets, teeth grinding at night, and also when the child is nervous, has dark circles under the eyes and has a dry cough.