4 Tips for Stopping Nighttime Itching

Nocturnal pruritus is not a term many people would be familiar with. But, it is something you may have experienced one or more times in your life. 

Nocturnal pruritus is the scientific name for nighttime itching. Research shows that about a quarter of adults in the United States suffer from chronic pruritus. Over 90% of them will complain about increased itching during the night. 

Night itching anxiety can make the condition difficult to live with. You can expect a disruption of normal sleep patterns. Lack of proper rest will severely impact your physical and emotional well-being. Your ability to be productive at the workplace will reduce, and overall, your quality of life will be lower. 

Our article explores some tips you can take recourse in to stop nighttime itching. But before we dive into that, let’s explore the cause of nocturnal pruritus. 

Why Am I Itching At Night?

There is no simple or one-off answer to why you could be itching at night. There are many contributing reasons. 

People who suffer from skin conditions may experience greater intensity of itching at night. It may not have anything to do with the actual condition. But you are at rest and do not have external distractions can make you focus more on the urge to scratch. However, other factors cause nighttime itching. These include:

• Circadian rhythm is the process of the body regulating chemicals and hormones as part of the natural cycle. During this time, there may be changes or fluctuations that can result in skin itching. Such include more blood flow to the body, higher skin temperature, and sweating. 
• Pregnancy and menopause result in hormonal imbalances. It can result in itchy skin or dryness. 
• Parasitic attacks from bed bugs, flies, lice, or fleas
• Dry skin, sunburn, hives, eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancer
• Depression and anxiety
• Illnesses like thyroid conditions, fungal skin infections, diabetes, kidney/liver failure, and HIV
• Certain medications like antifungals, narcotics, and antibiotics. 

So how do you tell what could cause the nighttime itching? The simplest way is to look at the skin condition. Flakiness, bumps, or a localized rash shows that the itching could be due to external or dermatological reasons. 

Nighttime itching without a rash or visible symptoms points to problems with internal functions. You may also be reacting to new medication or have a medical condition. 

How To Stop NightTime Itching 

Take Care Of The Underlying Issues

The sad reality is so many factors are to blame for nighttime itching. If the itching is due to a disease, you should seek treatment to care for the underlying issue. 

As per the list above, illnesses like diabetes, eczema, psoriasis, and thyroid can cause nocturnal itching. If you treat or manage them well, the itching may reduce or stop altogether. 

Medication

A doctor may prescribe specific medications depending on their diagnosis of nighttime itching. It could be oral, topical, or a combination of the two. This will typically be antihistamines, steroid creams, and antidepressants with oxidative and anti-itch effects. 

You can also get some relief with over-the-counter medications. You may not need a prescription and can purchase them from your local pharmacy. But, describe the symptoms to the pharmacist for the best advice on what to use. 

Please note that itching can occur anywhere in the body. For ladies, infections, chemical irritants, menopause, and stress cause vaginal itching. While the itching will be there the whole day, it worsens at night. This goes back to our point of lack of distractions during the night, exacerbating the urge to itch.

You can get over-the-counter creams to provide itching relief in the vaginal areas. The best itching cream for private parts will take care of the irritation and burning sensation. The anti-inflammatory properties will reduce the intensity of the itch. 

Alternative Methods To Stop Or Reduce Nocturnal Itching

Some things can stop or reduce the intensity of the itching. These include:-

• Avoid scented products if you see that the urge increases after using them.
• Use alcohol-free moisturizer when lubricating the skin.
• Have a fan and humidifier to moisturize the air and create airflow. It helps avoid drying of the skin, which can exacerbate the itching. 
• Avoid tight clothing in bed so that your skin can breathe. Cotton or silk is a good option for nightwear.
• Make sure you do not have any bed bugs, lice, or any other parasites that can bite,
• Ensure your drink plenty of water to keep your skin well moisturized. Refer to our point above on dry skin.
• Apply a cool compress in the area where the itching occurs. 

Lifestyle Changes That Can Help With Nighttime Itching

Making some simple lifestyle changes can help with nighttime itching. These include:

• You love your glass or two of wine as a way of winding down. Well, you may want to stay away from alcohol or caffeine before going to bed. They tend to widen blood vessels which pushes warm blood to your skin.
• Find effective stress management strategies. Remember, one of the causes of nocturnal itching is stress, anxiety, and depression. Take up yoga and learn meditation techniques for relaxing. Exercise or work on your hobby to distract you from the daily stressors. 
• Take better care of your skin by adopting a healthy skin routine. You should, for example, wash off the dirt and sweat before bed. Improper skin care can lead to skin infections that will result in itching. 
• Avoid sunburn by investing in a good sunscreen. Only buy those that are broad spectrum for better UV protection. The SPF should also never go lower than 30.
• Cover up when you go into the blazing sun. A wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved clothing should do the trick. The sun may feel good on your skin, but sunburn is not something you want to deal with. 

 Final Thoughts

When you go to bed at night, all you are looking forward to is a good night of sleep. Intense itching can be very uncomfortable, and you can be sure that sleep is not something you will enjoy that night. Seeking medical advice is always a good idea to identify what could be the cause. 

You can also find relief with over-the-counter medications. But if the condition persists, the prudent thing would be to seek immediate medical attention.