Itchy skin and eczema – how to calm it down
Why skin itches, how to use moisturisers and steroid creams properly, and when itching is a sign of something that needs a clinic rather than a cream.
Itching is a symptom, not a diagnosis
Skin itches for many reasons: eczema, dry skin, an allergic reaction, scabies, a fungal infection, an insect bite, or a reaction to a medicine. A few causes have nothing to do with the skin at all — thyroid, kidney or liver problems, and some blood conditions can all cause widespread itching with no rash.
Eczema: the basics that actually work
Eczema is dry, inflamed, itchy skin that comes and goes. Treatment has two halves and people usually do the second one only. The first half is keeping the skin barrier intact every single day, whether or not it looks bad.
- Moisturise generously and often — several times a day, and always after washing. This is the part that reduces how often flares happen.
- Wash with lukewarm rather than hot water, keep baths short, and use a soap substitute instead of ordinary soap.
- Pat dry rather than rubbing, and apply moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp.
- Use the steroid cream a clinician prescribed on the inflamed patches, for as long as they said, then stop.
- Keep nails short. Scratching breaks the skin and lets infection in, which is what turns a flare into a clinic visit.
Products commonly used for itchy skin and eczema in South Africa:
Aqueous Cream BP / Emollient — Aqueous Cream Lennon, E45, Epizone
Dry skin; eczema (as emollient/moisturiser and soap substitute)
Hydrocortisone Cream — Hydrocortisone Lennon, Dermacort, Cortaid, HC45
Mild eczema; dermatitis; insect bites; nappy rash
Betamethasone Cream — Betnovate, Diprosone, Celestoderm, Diproderm
Moderate to severe eczema; psoriasis; inflammatory skin conditions
Cetirizine — Zyrtec, Texa, Adco-Cetirizine, Allerclear
Allergic rhinitis; urticaria; allergic conjunctivitis
Calamine Lotion — Calamine
Itching (pruritus); sunburn; insect bites; chickenpox; mild skin irritation
Steroid creams: strength and site both matter
- Skin-lightening creams are not eczema treatment and some sold informally contain potent steroids or mercury. Do not use them on inflamed skin.
- If a patch is weeping, crusting golden-yellow, spreading fast or painful, it may be infected and needs a clinician rather than more steroid.
When to see someone
- Itching that stops you sleeping, or that is not improving after two weeks of proper moisturising.
- Any rash in a baby that is spreading or making them unwell.
- Intense itching that is worse at night and affects several people in the household — that pattern suggests scabies, which needs treatment for everyone at once.
- A new rash after starting a medicine.
Common questions
- How often should I moisturise eczema?
- Several times a day, every day, including when the skin looks fine, and always after washing. Daily moisturising is what reduces how often flares happen; the steroid cream only treats the flare in front of you.
- Are steroid creams safe?
- Used at the strength and site a clinician chose, and stopped when the flare settles, yes. The harm comes from using a strong cream long-term on thin skin such as the face, groin or a baby's skin.
- Why does my whole body itch with no rash?
- Widespread itching with no rash can come from dry skin, but it can also signal a thyroid, kidney or liver problem, or a reaction to a medicine. If it persists, ask for a clinic assessment and blood tests.
Sources
- Primary Healthcare Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines ListNational Department of Health, South Africa
- Adult Primary Care guide: symptom-based integrated approach to the adult in primary careNational Department of Health, South Africa
- Medicines Online Directory and approved patient information leafletsSouth African Health Products Regulatory Authority
Last reviewed 11 August 2026.