Every scratch is a new cause, so I go after the first tickle
Jamie's rule is simple: the scratching itself releases the histamine. Ice or lotion at the first hint of an itch, and never digging in.
Jamie ·
- Living with it
- More than 5 years
- Main trigger
- Scratching itself
- What helped
- Ice patches or lotion at the very first tickle, and never digging in
The scratches themselves cause the histamine release. So every scratch becomes a cause, and it makes the whole thing exponentially worse.
Once I understood that, it changed how I handle it. I can't scratch that much. If I did, it would become unbearable.
So now I go after the very first tickle — the first hint of an itch, before it's even properly an itch. I put an ice patch or a bit of lotion on that exact spot and I never dig in with my nails.
It sounds too simple to matter. It's honestly the only thing that keeps mine from getting so bad.
And sorry to anyone reading this who's suffering right now. I know how much it takes out of you.