Itchy skin (pruritus)

Relieving itching from a rash in a child

• Keep your child's fingernails clean and short.

  Encourage your child not to scratch. Cover your baby's hands with socks to help keep your baby from scratching.

• Keep your child out of the sun and in a cool place.

  Heat makes itching worse.

• Keep the itchy area cool and wet if your child is older than age 9 months.

  Put cloths soaked in ice water on the rash a few times a day. Too much wetting and drying will dry the skin, which can increase itching. Don't put cloths soaked in ice water on the skin of a baby younger than 9 months. It may cause the baby's body temperature to go down.

• Add a handful of oatmeal (ground to a powder) to your child's bath.

  Or you can try an oatmeal bath product, such as Aveeno.

• Dress your child in cotton clothing.

  Don't use wool and synthetic fabrics next to the skin.

• Use gentle soaps on your child's skin.

  Examples of these soaps are Basis, Cetaphil, Dove, and Oil of Olay. Use as little soap as you can. Don't use deodorant soaps on your child.

• Wash your child's clothes with a mild soap.

  Try using ones such as CheerFree or Ecover. Rinse twice to remove all traces of the soap. Don't use strong detergents.

• Don't let the skin get too dry.

  Dry skin can make itching worse.

• Try nonprescription medicines for itching.

  Carefully read and follow all label directions on the medicine bottle or box.

  • Try calamine lotion for a rash caused by contact dermatitis, such as poison ivy or poison oak rashes.
  • For severe itching, apply hydrocortisone cream 4 times a day until the itch is gone.
    Do not use the cream on children younger than age 2 unless your doctor tells you to do so. Do not use in the rectal or vaginal area on children younger than age 12 unless your doctor tells you to do so.
  • If itching affects your child's sleep, ask the doctor about giving your child an antihistamine that might reduce itching and make your child sleepy, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.