Itchy skin at night this summer? Here's why

Why is my skin itchy at night? 

Itching at night isn't usually something to worry about, but it can be annoying and disruptive if it's happening a lot. Your instinct to scratch can wake you up and disturb your sleep, leaving you feeling groggy the next day. Scratching a lot can also result in broken, sore and bleeding skin.  

According to the Cadogan Clinic skin specialist Dr Sophie Momen, itchy skin at night is known as nocturnal pruritis. "This is a common skin concern and can be very troubling to people. It can have a large effect on sleep, which can have a knock-on effect the next day." 

Both medical and lifestyle factors can trigger nighttime skin itching. Perhaps you find this is only a problem in summer when the weather warms, it crops up as an issue every now and then, or it's become a recent ongoing issue that you can't quite work out. 

In some ways, a little itchiness at night is normal. "Your skin becomes drier overnight because it loses moisture," explains Dr Momen. Dry skin can become irritated, triggering itchiness as a sign that it's not entirely happy. 

I cambiamenti ormonali durante la notte sono anche un fattore. Durante questo periodo, il tuo corpo non produce tanti ormoni come durante il giorno, come parte del tuo ritmo circadiano (o orologio biologico). Questo include gli ormoni che riducono l'infiammazione. Si tratta di un tipo di gonfiore innescato dal sistema immunitario, che a volte può causare prurito¹.  

These are some of the normal processes your body goes through. However, if your sleep is suffering or your skin is becoming sore and uncomfortable as a result, it's worth checking if there's something more going on. 

Anyone's skin can become itchy at night due to several factors, Dr Momen explains: 

• Fattori esterni hanno aumentato la tua temperatura corporea - for example, if you've recently switched to a warmer duvet. This increases blood flow to the skin. 

• Fattori esterni hanno reso la tua pelle più secca - for example, if you're leaving your central heating on overnight in winter. 

• Ti senti stressato - stress can trigger itching². You're more likely to notice this at night when you have fewer distractions.  

Itchy skin at night isn't just a summer problem, but for lots of people this season can kickstart this annoying, sleep-disturbing sensation: 

• Time in the sun  - even if you don't burn, the sun's rays can make your skin drier than normal. Dry skin is weak and easily damaged, which might allow toxins to pass through into your body. Itching can be part of your immune system's response to this threat. 

• Scottatura solare - burning your skin creates a lot of damage. It may lead to neurogenic inflammation, where immune cells are sent straight to the damaged area, causing pain and itching. 

• Febbre da fieno - if you're allergic to summer pollen, this can blow through open windows and enter your nose and mouth during the night. This can cause itching along with other sintomi classici. 

• Ondata di calore - switching to a lighter duvet can help keep your body temperature cooler. Be mindful that fans and air conditioning could also trigger itching by drying your skin too much. Find more advice for sleeping during a heatwave qui.

These summer triggers can usually be resolved by taking straightforward measures, like protecting and moisturising your skin, and adjusting your bedroom set up. Although less likely, there are some other summer hazards.  

If you suddenly experience a lot of itching and tiny red dots after swimming or wading in natural bodies of water - like lakes, rivers or the ocean – there's a small chance that parasites have entered your skin. With the current crisi delle fognature nel Regno Unito, be especially careful of contaminated waters this summer. 

If you know you have a skin condition like eczema, psoriasi or urticaria, it's normal for this to become itchier at night - even if it's giving you minimal bother in the day. 

"Le condizioni della pelle come l'eczema possono essere più pruriginose di notte," dice il Dr. Momen. "Questo perché tendiamo ad essere più caldi quando siamo a letto, il che significa che c'è un aumento del flusso sanguigno alla pelle. Inoltre, quando siamo rilassati a letto ci sono meno cose a distrarci, quindi diventiamo più consapevoli dei sintomi come il prurito."

Anche se molti considerano l'eczema una malattia infantile, è possibile svilupparlo più tardi nella vita. Infatti, secondo la National Eczema Association, 1 adulto su 4 riferisce che i sintomi sono comparsi per la prima volta in età adulta³. See your doctor if you suspect your sintomi are something more than nighttime itching. 

If you don't have a known skin condition, and suddenly experience a lot of itching along with other symptoms like red rashes, blisters, and bumpy patches of skin, you may be having an allergic reaction. The most common cause of this is taking a new medication. Contact your doctor and follow their advice. 

 "Itchy skin at night can also be a sign of underlying conditions," warns Dr Momen. These are wide ranging and can be very serious. Before you start to worry, know that just itching at night as a standalone symptom is unlikely to be a sign of the following. You can find full information on the main warning signs for each condition through the links below. 

• Diabete. 

• Anemia. 

• Gravidanza. 

• Disturbi della tiroide. 

• Ansia oppure depressione. 

• Infezioni. 

• Malattia renale. 

• Malattia del fegato. 

• Leucemia. 

• Linfoma. 

If you have concerns, don't delay a trip to the doctors. They can put your mind at ease if it's nothing serious, or further investigate a problem to give you the best chances of recovery or treatment. 

As a standalone issue, itchy skin at night is usually nothing to worry about - but that doesn't make it less of a nuisance, less sore if you break the skin, or less disruptive if it's keeping you awake. 

Here Dr Momen shares her tips for reducing the itch and soothing the damage: 

1. Mantieni la tua camera da letto fresca, intorno ai 20^oC. 

2. Avoid hot baths and showers before bed - opt for cool temperatures. 

3. Apply a moisturiser designed for eczema prone skin to affected areas. 

4. Emollients with menthol in can be kept in fridge and may be cooling and relieve itchiness. 

"If your symptoms last for more than 2-4 weeks, then I would advise seeking advice from your doctor or a dermatologist, as they can find out the cause. You should seek advice sooner if your itch is accompanied by night sweats or unexplained weight loss." 

1. Podder et al: Prurito notturno e disturbi del sonno associati a disturbi dermatologici nei pazienti adulti.  

2. Lavery et al: Prurito notturno: la battaglia per una notte di sonno tranquillo.  

3. Associazione Nazionale Eczema: Statistiche sull'eczema.