Is eczema keeping you up at night? While a good night’s rest is essential for one’s overall health and well-being, getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night can be hard for eczema sufferers. This is because eczema symptoms tend to get worse at night. Read on for our best tips on how to get good sleep when dealing with itchy skin at night.
What Causes Itching Skin at Night?
You may have noticed that your skin feels itchier at night. Don’t worry, this is not just your imagination! There are a few reasons why this may be the case. To start with, the effects of your moisturizer have likely worn off by the time bedtime rolls around. This means that your skin will be drier and naturally itchier.
Another reason may be related to a change in temperature. Many people overheat during the night, which can cause eczema-related itching to peak.
In addition, the body’s cortisol level, which is the hormone responsible for itch and inflammation, surges at night. Finally, many people unknowingly scratch their skin during the night. This can lead to increased irritation and itchiness.
Remedy for Itchy Skin at Night
As mentioned earlier, sleep is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, lack of proper sleep can even contribute to worsening your eczema! Let’s take a look at some ways you can improve your sleeping pattern to, in turn, improve your skin.
Stay Moisturized
When you suffer from chronically dry skin, it’s important to stay moisturized throughout the day but also at night. Therefore, it’s a good idea to reapply a moisturizer before you go to bed.
We recommend an oil-based balm, such as this Organic Manuka Honey Cream, as this cream can balance the skin’s moisture best. This skin-soothing cream is perfect for sensitive skin because it’s 100% natural. Made with just six ingredients - including Manuka honey, organic olive oil, and beeswax - it’s gentle enough to be applied anywhere on the body, even the eyelids. Your skin will love its soft, buttery texture and sweet, honey smell!
Wear Eczema-Friendly Sleepwear
Help yourself get a good night’s sleep by wearing comfortable sleepwear. We love Remedywear™ Eczema Clothing because all their clothing is soft, breathable, and truly fits like a second skin.
Made with eco-friendly TENCEL and embedded with anti-inflammatory zinc fibers, the clothes are specially designed to combat the urge to scratch while offering a gentle layer of protection.
In fact, studies have found that the unique blend of fibers is clinically proven to improve the quality of sleep and reduce the severity of itching and other atopic dermatitis symptoms when worn for three nights in a row [1].
Our favorites for itchy skin at night include:
Remedywear™ (TENCEL + Zinc) Long Sleeve Shirt - ADULT
Remedywear™ (TENCEL + Zinc) Long Sleeve Shirt for KIDS
Remedywear™ (TENCEL + Zinc) Pants - ADULT
Remedywear™ (TENCEL + Zinc) Long Pants for KIDS
Protect Against Scratching
No matter how hard you resist scratching during the day, you have far less control over your actions during the night and may be scratching unknowingly! One of the best ways to protect yourself against this is by wearing gloves.
We recommend Remedywear™ (TENCEL + Zinc) Gloves for ADULTS and kids. Made with moisture-wicking fabric, the gloves provide comfortable stretch and protection, making them perfect for wearing overnight. Plus, there’s no need to worry about the gloves sliding off during the night, as the perfect amount of latex-free elastane ensures they stay in one place.
Wet Wrap Therapy
Boost the effectiveness of your moisturizer by combining the treatment with wet wrap therapy.
The process is simple: soak the skin in lukewarm water, seal with a moisturizer like the Organic Manuka Honey Cream mentioned above, and apply a damp layer of clothing for a minimum of two hours.
We suggest these Remedywear™ eczema sleeves, perfect for both adults and kids. The hypoallergenic eczema bandages work well alone or worn under pajamas. Studies of wet wrap therapy show an 71% average reduction of symptoms.
Resources: [1] Wiegand, 2013, Skin-protective effects of a zinc oxide-functionalized textile and its relevance for atopic dermatitis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol; 6: 115–121. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3656624/
References
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323505 https://nationaleczema.org/10-tips-sleep-with-eczema/ https://www.healthline.com/health/atopic-dermatitis/sleeping-severe-eczema
