People with eczema are being invited to take part in a new study looking at how to break the 'itch-scratch' cycle.
The Scratch Less Study is being led by experts from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The new online study is the latest part of the Rapid Eczema Trials programme – an innovative citizen science project to design and run online clinical studies in partnership with members of the public. The decision to focus on supporting ways to break the itch-scratch cycle was prioritised by people with eczema, as coping with this itchy skin condition can be a real challenge.
Scratching eczema creates a cycle of worsening itch, which then leads to more scratching and skin damage. This is often called the 'itch-scratch' cycle.
Scratching is a natural response to the itch sensation which tends to feel good in the moment but can make the skin more irritated. If scratching continues over a long period, it can cause long-term inflammation in the skin that is hard to treat.
Most recommended treatments focus on moisturisers and flare-control creams, which are important to help manage eczema, but additional support to cope with intensely itchy skin is needed. Breaking the itch-scratch cycle could be one way of helping with this.
The study has just opened and is looking for volunteers.
The study is testing whether a short, three-part programme called Scratch Less, can help to break the itch-scratch cycle and lead to improved eczema symptoms. The Scratch Less programme is suitable for people aged eight years and older. It can be accessed online and is designed to be completed over a period of three weeks, with practice activities between each session.
One of the Rapid Eczema Trials' citizen scientists who helped to develop this study said "Living with the itch–scratch cycle can be exhausting. I've really appreciated the team's understanding of my accessibility needs, which made it easier to contribute to shaping the study. "
Almost 600 children and adults will take part in the Scratch Less study. Each will be asked to take part for four months and will be sent a short questionnaire to complete online once a month.
People taking part will continue with their eczema treatments as usual. Half will be given access to the Scratch Less programme straight away and half will be asked to wait until the end of the 4-month study before trying it for themselves. It is not yet known whether the Scratch Less programme works – that is why the study is being done.
Working with our citizen science partners to prioritise and design this study has been a real privilege. I'm excited to see whether the Scratch Less programme is something useful that could be adopted widely into clinical care in the UK."
