The other symptoms include leg pains, thinning and inflamed skin, severe itching, and the growth of open sores that can also be painful. Soon, there are patches of skin that become dry and scaly, formation of skin crusting that darkens and thickens with repeated scratching and rubbing. Violet-colored discolorations soon appear on the top of the feet and in the lower legs. This is definitely not something that you must be happy about, but at least with such fact, you know that there are many people that you can ask on how to help your kid deal with such. This kind of skin problem that is also known as atopic dermatitis, typically begins as rash during the early infancy or by the time your kid reach the age of five. Behavior modification and topical therapy Behavior modification is a set of techniques used in helping people change their actions to get desired results. This can be added to the treatment plan prescribed by a dermatologist to produce clearer skin. Practiced in the United Kingdom, the method is to teach techniques to patients to avoid scratching. People who are suffering from this skin problem are prone to develop other skin infections that are caused by fungi, bacteria and other viruses. To help you deal with eczema, especially if your kids are suffering from this, you must get them looked at by the right professionals. Only the doctors can recommend the most suitable solution for the itchiness according to the severity of the problem. This may also be due to airborne allergens such as pollen and dust. This may also be due to too much dryness of the skin or wearing itchy clothing. It is very essential that you find out what causes or what triggers this condition. The only way for you to avoid flare ups is by staying away from what causes such. Use only fragrance-free, neutral pH detergents. Some fabric softeners can be harsh on human skin. Remove the tags on new clothes. They can rub and irritate the skin. Cold compress When the afflicted skin area acts up and becomes itchy, a cold compress can help curb the urge to scratch. Scratching can make the condition worse in the event that the skin is punctured or abraded allowing the entry of bacteria and germs.