We all get itches. But what about when we are wearing a cast? A nightmare situation can occur when you get a nasty itch deep beneath a plaster or fibreglass cast, and you have no way of getting to it. Can’t you just find something long and thin to poke through and scratch away?
No – stop! You should avoid scratching an itch at all costs if you are wearing any kind of cast over the top. That may sound unbearable, but scratching an itch beneath a cast could lead to health problems or infections. So – how do you ever hope to relieve yourself from such an aggravation?
What NOT To Do
One of the most obvious ways to relieve any type of itch is to scratch it with your fingers. If you can’t reach it, you might find it tempting to use a thin object or tool. However, scratching in this way could lead you to open a wound or developing sores.
Anything that’s likely to break the skin puts you at risk of infection. As you are likely to wear a cast for weeks at a time, you may not know you are infected until your cast comes off! By then, you may be feeling seriously unwell.
Therefore, it’s essential to start looking at alternative forms of relief for nuisance itches. Itching may even be a sign of the healing process – so don’t be too tempted to go all out on scratching!
What You Can Do
Itching beneath a cast likely occurs due to moisture build-up. Depending on how long you wear a cast for, they can get very hot and often sweaty over time. Therefore, your skin can become irritated and drive you to take risks. It can sometimes get unbearable!
Therefore, one of the best ways to relieve moisture is, of course, to dry it off. You should find ways to blow cool air into and through your cast. You may be able to do that using specific settings on a hairdryer, for example. However, you must be careful not to set it to a high heat setting!
Another good option is to use a readily available anti-inflammatory medicine. There are many such over-the-counter products which work to reduce swelling and itching. You may not even need to apply anything to the skin itself!
You can also take ice packs and bags and press down on your cast where it itches the most. However, always make sure you press down with something dry, or you could seriously damage the cast itself if it absorbs moisture from the ice.
More Advice
You can always consult your doctor or specialist for advice. If you have regular check-ups to analyse your cast and injury, raise itchy problems with your consultant. They will likely help you find healthy ways to soothe irritation without any potential health problems arising.
No one likes wearing casts! However, easing itching is something you can do without scratching the source. Take a look at our further guides for more help and support.
Further Support and Guidance
Please note that the above guide is advisory only and should not replace any medical support or guidance. We recommend asking any questions you may have regarding your cast and injury during consultations. Do always take care with your cast, and never over-exert yourself.
However, if you are interested in buying a cast cover, there are plenty of great choices available online. Why not take a look at our range, or call our team for more information?
About Heather Gatland
Chief Cast Cover Checker at Cast Covers NZ
After finding that Waterproof Cast Covers made life with a leg cast so much easier for showering and swimming, Heather wanted to help others to also have an easier recovery. So after extensively researching and extensively testing Cast Cover brands worldwide, Heather founded Cast Covers NZ in 2015. With her 5 years of “hands-on” experience working with medical professionals, hospitals, extensive business experience and Chartered Accountant qualification, Heather knows all the ins and outs of the Cast Covers market. Heather’s goal of helping kiwis, like herself has come true. Heather still loves researching and sharing her findings on the Cast Covers blog as well as enjoys supporting customers in getting back to feeling happy and active during their recovery.