"Don’t scratch" is probably one of the best—and worst—pieces of advice an eczema patient can receive. The skin condition, which is caused by an abnormal immune reaction that results in dry, red, cracked patches of skin, is only made worse by itching. Your nails damage the skin barrier, which then ramps up inflammatory molecules that exacerbate the itch, explains Jonathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. What’s more, chronic scratching may make you more susceptible to infections, since it's easier for bacteria to invade the cracked skin. Click here to read more.
