Eczema Scratch Mittens: An Essential Part of the Healing Process

scratch mittens - girl blowing bubbles in scratchmenots

By Laura Dolgy (see bio below)

Nothing is more annoying or painful as watching a loved one suffer from eczema and experience relentless scratching. Those of us who do suffer from eczema will agree that scratching provides relief (even if only for a second) but that it also causes a whirlwind of other issues like more itchiness, bleeding and infection. In fact, there is clinical term for it, the notorious “itch-scratch cycle.” Today, we’re going discuss to how to prevent scratching, specifically in babies and children. If you’ve never heard of scratch mittens, you’re going to want to keep reading on…

What are Scratch Mittens?

They are literally the saving grace for baby and eczema scratching. They can be found in both sleeves and individual gloves or mittens and help provide a protective layer between the skin and hands/nails. This decreases the chance of possible skin infections like Staph and can significantly reduce the healing period.

So which are the best scratch mitten options for you? Check out some of our recommendations below:

1) ScratchSleeves with Scratch Mitten

These stay closed scratch mittens help protect delicate skin from relentless scratching. They are made with 100% cotton sleeves and silk mittens, making them gentle for even the most sensitive skin. Cooling and breathable, they are perfect for wearing during the day or all through the night.

3) Eczema Gloves for Kids

For children who are a year to 10 years old, you’ll want to go with a piece of clothing that is flexible and not restrictive. We love Remedywear™’s kids gloves because the zinc oxide and TENCEL fabric is so utterly soft and amazing. They are definitely something to check out!

5) Eczema Gloves for Adults

We couldn’t end this post without giving adults some scratching relief too! Not to be too repetitive, but our hats go off to Remedywear again with their adult gloves in TENCEL and zinc fiber. Just so soft and soothing and AMAZING! These Bamboo Eczema Gloves for Adults (similar to those for kids) will help prevent scratching, as well as offer protection for eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis and more. Because most adults are active during the day, it’s best to use these at night along with a soothing ointment to help speed up the healing process overnight.

Although eczema can be a difficult skin condition to heal or cure, there are easy first steps you can take to prevent further irritation and infection. Scratch mittens are the best first step in healing your skin. Don’t believe us? Jennifer, founder of this blog, swears by them after they radically helped healed her son’s eczema. Want to read more about her and Tristan’s story? Take a look her post: Natural Remedies for Eczema – What Worked For My Son.

Do you use eczema mittens or know of any other tricks to prevent scratching? Let us know in the comments below!

Bio: Laura is a contributor and content developer for It’s An Itchy Little World. She is in no way a medical professional. Her comments, suggestions, and reflections are not intended to replace any medical advice. Always seek the help of a medical professional before undertaking any diet or lifestyle changes. Please see It’s An Itchy Little World’s disclaimer for information about affiliate links and more.

 

References:

[1] Wiegand, 2013, Skin-protective effects of a zinc oxide-functionalized textile and its relevance for atopic dermatitis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol; 6: 115–121.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3656624/

FROM: Eczema

4 Comments

  1. Christopher Bridgett (@ckbridgett) on March 7, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Super that scratching is your topic – add #HabitReversal and then you have something that makes peace with the skin and allows #NaturalHealing – complementary medicine at its best! https://www.atopicskindisease.com/categories/HR

  2. Amy Manning on March 7, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    I agree! Scratch mittens are essential! My grand daughter wears them every night when she sleeps. It’s become a part of her bedtime routine.
    I buy light weight cotton long sleeved t shirts in a couple of sizes too big. I take out the hem at the bottom of the sleeve and sew the sleeve shut. She just pulls the shirt over her pajamas. (she wears footed pajamas to prevent ankle scratching as well) This has become an incredibly thrifty option.

  3. Katelyn Bell on June 21, 2017 at 10:15 am

    THANK YOU! I have been looking everywhere for something for my one year old’s hands. She has some Scratch Me Not sleeves, but with summer heat coming I was looking for something that would cover just her hands. I just ordered her some 1-2 year Eczema Gloves for Kids.

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