I'm itchy - which means that you and your kids must be too. :-) Eczema is commonly referred to as the "itch that rashes" and often xerosis or itchy skin without a rash is simply a mild form of eczema or atopic dermatitis. This is much more common when the skin barrier is weakened and can be triggered by temperature changes, irritants such as sunscreen, sweat, salt water, chlorine or detergent/soap. It is important to treat the itch because it can disrupt sleep and the act of scratching can release more histamine causing worsening itch and sometimes predispose to infection. Identifying the root cause and eliminating it can help - it's especially easy to eliminate fragrant soaps. But sometimes it's impossible to avoid - ie. sweat. In these situations building up the skin's barrier will help to sooth the itch and prevent further inflammation. To restore the skin barrier and sooth itch - moisturize! After a short shower with mild soap and lukewarm water, pat dry and immediately grease up with a cream (typically comes in a tub / not a pump) or an ointment (vaseline / aquaphor). You should stay shiny even after 2-3 minutes. Simple - but we know when the skin barrier is stronger it will be more resistant to irritants. Have you tried this or had difficulty with your kids scratching and itching recently?