Excessive itching in 2-year old?

Question

One of my family members (not my kid) who is 2 scratches almost everywhere on her body excessively. Her arms, legs, stomach, buttocks, and genitals. So much that she has scabs on her legs from scratching so much. The skin is very dry (on the first four I listed anyway) and lotion helps but unfortuanately she is not with my husband and I every day and I don't think they put lotion on her as much as they should and they haven't taken her to the doctor.

Any suggestions as to what to do? Is this normal? Any creams to help?

Answer 1

As far as lotion, the best one is probably Eucerine.  It is a little expensive but probably worth the money.  The one thing that I would do is advise them to change their detergent/soap.  We can only use dial soap in my house or Aveno baby wash for eczema.  If I try to use any other, my skin itches. I also only use Tide to do my laundry.  There are scent free laundry detergents...All Free & Clear, And Tide Free...for people with sensative skin.  Try those and see if it helps.

Answer 2

This ounds like Eczema to me.  The scratching can lead to open wounds on the skin and sometimes even infection - we have had to put our 15 month old on antibiotics twice now because of scratch induced infection.  Eucerin Cream (in a white jar) is the most effective lotion we have found to date and we have tried a ton of lotions and creams in the last year.  We also took him to an allergist who prescribed a steroid cream for the really bad breakouts - it has really been a life saver for us.  My son's eczema flares up so bad at times that his entrire body looks like a calous, it is so sad.  They should also pay close attention to their childs fingernails and really keep up on cutting them very short, this will make it harder for her to scratch really deep.  Our method to keep the flare ups to a minimum is bathing every other day in an Aveeno Oatmeal bath and using the Cetaphil cleanser instead of soap.  Immedietly after his bath (while he is still damp) we apply the steroid cream to the really bad spots (under arms, in leg and arm creases, neck, ankles and wrists) then we cover his entire body in a thick coat of the Eucerin cream and then put his pajama's on him.  This is a struggle because he really doesn't want to sit still for all of it, so i usually end up covered in lotion  but it is totally worth it to see his beautiful skin.  

Another technique we have used to really get his skin in good condition (before going to the pool or during cold weather months) is called wet dressing.  The parent would use the same bathing technique I mentioned above only after all the lotion is applied you dress your child in damp pajama's then over the top of the damp pajama's you put on dry pajama's and put them to bed for the night, this worked so well one time when my son had a really bad breakout, it a great overnight solution.

Some of the techniques may sound strange to some parents, but if your child is miserable with itching it is worth it for sure to get them calm and comfortable.

Good luck to you and your friend!

Answer 3

Is she asthmatic? Itchy skin is common in children with Asthma and Reactive Airway.

If she is scratching like that, she should not be given bubble baths, she needs lotion after a bath (like you said), don't use hot water in the tub.

If she has broken her skin like this, she needs to see the doc. Those open wounds are a perfect place for her to pick up MRSA or some other bacteria/virus.

Answer 4

He could have a skin condition or allergies to the elements. He should see a dermatologist and if it's not the skin then a allergy specialist. My son has food and allergies to every kind of grass, tree, mold, dust, well just about everything and he scratches all the time. So they put him on a medicine that calms things down and he is doing better plus with a moisturizer recommended by a dermatologist such as Cetaphil or Aveno should help him out.

Answer 5

calamin lotion might help or hydrocortisone may be she is allergic to something and it may be causing an allergic reaction to it is it a rash that she has if it looks like like a rash and an allergic reaction you can give her benadryl that helps

Answer 6

Sounds like a classic case of eczema, or atopic dermitis.  A lukewarm bath without soap and immediate application of over the counter cortisone cream and liberal greasing over that would help a great deal.  The key here is to apply cortisone only to unbroken skin, neosporin or polysporin on the open skin, and if she might have a skin infection she needs to see a doctor.  She ought anyway, with eczema she is prone to infection with the scratching.

Well, that's what I do for my two son's terrible eczema and scratching.  I did not like using cortisone but it was either that or my oldest would scratch so much he got infections.  Since I have implemented the routine he hasn't had one skin infection and his skin is relatively clear, and for both of them it has been head to toe.

Answer 7

you should maybe take the child to see a doctor if not that then try aveeno with natural oil and creams

Answer 8

It could be Excema..A skin condition common in most young children. It causes itching and dry patches of skin. The doctor can give prescription cream for it if it's that bad.