Getting a good night’s sleep is important if you want to stay active for the rest of the day. Though adults may need less sleep than children or babies, we still need to sink in more than a few hours to feel energised the next morning. Studies have shown that having insufficient sleep can lead to serious health problems. Not to mention that without enough sleep, you can feel very lethargic, leading to decreased productivity the following day. It can also lead to a drastic drop in your mood.
But getting a good night’s sleep is easier said than done. For those who have eczema, trying to go to sleep can be next to impossible, especially with the sensations that flareups can bring. It can take a powerful eczema itch cream or medicine just to even be in the right mindset to sleep.
The link between eczema symptoms and poor sleep
Eczema is a condition that affects mostly children, but may appear or persist to adulthood in some cases. It mostly affects the skin, turning it red, splotchy, flaky, or extremely dry. Eczema may appear differently from person to person, which makes predicting its symptoms or behaviour challenging.
But one of the most annoying aspects of eczema is that the affected parts of your skin can turn unbearably itchy, especially during flare-ups. Sleep disruption is a very common effect of this, affecting an estimated thirty to eighty percent of adults, and more than eighty percent in children.
No one knows the exact cause of why eczema flareups happen so frequently at night, but there are a few suspected causes. For one, they may be caused by dust mites and other allergens in your bed. Another probable cause is that your skin tends to be drier at night. Whatever the reason, it’s obvious that you will need a suitable nightly skincare routine to manage it.
Managing eczema itches at night
Feeling too itchy to go to sleep at night? Here are some tips to manage it well:
- Moisturise before bed. The best anti-itch creams for eczema should be able to hold off most of the sensations and allow you to drift off. You can ask a doctor to prescribe you strong creams and moisturisers.
- Sleep in a cool and comfortable environment. Sweat sticking to your skin can make you feel even itchier. Avoid sweating by sleeping in a cool bedroom or space.
- Avoid allergens and other triggers. Itchy wool, a dusty room, pet dander, and other common allergens can be the culprits responsible for triggering your eczema. Make sure your bedroom is free from these.
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