Some of the treatments temporarily relieved the itch, but once she stopped using them, the itch returned, Trevett says. She isn’t alone. A 2016 study found that among adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (a form of eczema), 71 percent of people reported severe, unbearable itching, while 86 percent said they itch daily and 63 percent itch at least 12 hours a day. At least some of this itching is the result of scratching, a phenomenon that’s called the itch-scratch cycle. Eczema causes itching, but scratching the area damages the skin even further, leading to the release of chemicals called histamines, according to Tania Elliott, MD, a board-certified allergist and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI). In turn, these histamines cause more itching and swelling in the skin, she explains. “The moment you scratch your skin, you cause more trauma to it, which recruits more inflammatory cells to the skin,” Dr. Elliott says. “Even though you’re doing something that [temporarily] quells the itch, it just makes it worse.” The good news is that the itch-scratch cycle can be interrupted — and even prevented. Here are some tips:
