You keep asking yourself, “why am I Itching in bed?” because it keeps on disrupting your sleep. The skin itching at night or also known as nocturnal pruritus, is a condition that can occur due to various reasons.
It may due to some natural causes or even to some serious health issues. This will become a problem if the itch scratching becomes a cycle every night.
You may break the skin as you keep scratching them and then inflamed it, resulting in it being even itchier, so you’ll have to scratch more.
Keep reading to know the common causes of itching in bed. We will also touch on the ways to prevent this occurrence.
Reasons Why I Am Itching In Bed
It is important to know its root cause for you to know how to prevent it. Here’s the list of the common skit itching causes. So, why am I itching in bed?
Reason #1. Natural causes
Commonly, the culprit behind skin itching is some natural mechanisms or lifestyle factors. The natural circadian rhythm of the body and its daily cycles may affect the functions of the skin. This may include barrier protection, fluid balance, and temperature regulation. The function change can happen at night.
For instance, if both the body temperature and the flow of blood to the skin increase at night, the skin will become warmer. This rise in the temperature of the skin can cause it to itch.
The body also releases particular substances differently during the day. During bedtime, it releases more amount of cytokines and this can increase inflammation.
On the other hand, the production of corticosteroids or inflammation-reducing hormones slows down. Other than that, the skin loses more amount of water during the night. If you notice, the parched skin during the winter months can become itchy.
You most likely wouldn’t feel the itchiness in day time since you are distracted from doing different activities. But at night, the itchiness becomes more intense since you are faced with fewer distractions.
Reason #2. Depression, stress, and anxiety
Itching in bed is strongly associated with psychological issues like depression, stress, and anxiety. According to a theory, psychological drama may hyper-activate your body. It may flood it with hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
Not only that, but it may also activate the body’s immune system. Those are common responses of the body to protect you. Both anxiety and stress can interfere with the body’s ability to produce sufficient cortisol, leading to itchiness in bed.
This can become more intense if you are often stressed out. Sleep deprivation is another factor that may lead to itchiness. The hormones may be dysregulated, leading to some cascade effects that can trigger itching in bed.
Reason #3. Health issues
Skin conditions like hives, psoriasis, or eczema may lead to excessive itching in bed. In addition, some non-dermatological conditions like restless leg syndrome may also cause itching in bed.
Other issues like kidney disease, cancer, thyroid problems, and diabetes are some other health-related issues that can cause itching. Those conditions also cause hormonal imbalance, sensory response, or autoimmune response which is why your skin itches.
Some other symptoms that you may experience include fatigue, dizziness, dry skin, weight gain, tingly feet, constipation, and night sweats.
Allergic reactions to some substances like cosmetics, foods, drugs, and chemicals will also make your skin itchy at night. The same is true when you are pregnant.
Things To Do When Itching In Bed
In case you have been experiencing itching in bed, below are some of the common triggers that you must keep in mind:
- Do not wear something itchy. Instead, wear pajamas that are made of soft and natural fibers like silk or cotton.
- Avoid scratching because it will irritate the skin even more. It would help if you also kept your nails short.
- Overheating may also lead to itchiness, so it is ideal for keeping the room temperature cool.
- Avoid using scented soaps, perfumed creams, cosmetics, or any other products that irritate the skin.
- It would help if you also avoided alcohol and caffeine before bed as they cause blood vessels to widen, so more blood will be sent to the skin, thereby warming it.
Other Remedies To Do At Home
If you think that stress is the one aggravating your skin, then you can try several techniques such as muscle relaxation, yoga, and meditation to calm yourself. Other than that, below are some home remedies that you can consider.
- Apply a wet compress to the skin to soothe its itchiness.
- Taking a warm bath.
- Applying lubricating moisturizer that has no alcohol content.
- Turning on your humidifier can help in adding moisture to your room as you sleep.
When Should You See The Doctor?
If the skin itchiness continues after two weeks, it is best to have it checked. Do the same if you notice other symptoms like rash, weakness, fever, or weight loss.
Probably, you will also see a dermatologist if the itching is already too intense to bear.
It’s A Wrap!
Now that you get answers to your question, “why am I itching in bed?” for sure, you will be able to prevent it from occurring.
Some preventive measures are also provided for you.