Massage therapy for eczema

A study  carried out in the US showed that children with eczema greatly benefited from a daily, 20 minute massage over a one month period. Dermatologists agree that the eczema itch can be partly in response to stress and massage therapy helps decrease stress and therefore the subsequent scratching. The study found that redness and scaling had improved significantly; children were less anxious and parents were also less anxious and their feelings about their children improved.

Here’s what to do
First apply an emollient like E45 cream (500g pump dispenser £9.69) with smooth stroking movements over the child’s body.

Then massage the five key regions in the following order, avoiding any severely affected or sensitive areas:

Face

• Stoke along both sides of face.
• Using flats of fingers stroke across forehead.
• Use circular strokes over temples and hinge of the jaw.
• Massage nose, cheeks, jaw and chin with flats of fingers.
  

Chest

•  Stroke both sides of chest with the flats of fingers, going from the centre outwards.
• Work in cross strokes on the sides of chest going over shoulders.

Stomach

•  Use hand over hand technique (paddle-wheel fashion) over stomach avoiding the ribs and the tip of the ribcage.
  
• Work in a clockwise circular motion using fingers starting just above waist.

Legs

•  Starting at hip work down to foot with gently strokes upwards towards the heart.
• Apply gentle squeezes in a twisting motion across the leg from hip to foot.
• Concentrate on feet and toes, stretching Achilles tendon by pushing ball of the foot towards leg.
  

Arms

• Using the same technique as for legs, work from shoulder to hand.