“Why Is My Skin Itchy at Night?”, 7 Reasons You May Be Scratching

Why does your skin seem fine during the day but suddenly itchy when you get into bed? Itchy skin at night, also known as nocturnal pruritus, can have several causes, including dry skin, changes in body temperature, skin conditions and irritation.

For some people, the itching may be mild and temporary, while others may scratch so much that it disrupts their sleep and damages the skin. Here are seven possible reasons your skin may be itching at night.

7 Reasons Your Skin May Be Itchy at Night

1. Your skin is dry.

Dry skin the most common causes of itching and can become more noticeable at night. Frequent bathing, low humidity and hot showers can also cause skin dryness.

2. You’re getting too hot while sleeping.

Changes in body temperature at night easily trigger or worsen itching. A warm bedroom, heavy bedding or sweating may make the sensation more noticeable when you are trying to sleep.

3. You have a skin condition.

Eczema, psoriasis, hives and other skin conditions can cause itching. Eczema, for example, commonly causes very itchy skin and may be accompanied by dryness, scaling or a rash.

4. Something is irritating your skin.

A new soap, detergent, lotion, fragrance, bedding material or any other substance can trigger an allergic or irritant reaction. In some cases, the resulting itch can be intense even when the cause isn’t immediately obvious.

5. You could be dealing with insect bites.

Bedbugs, mites and some other insects can cause persistent itching, particularly when exposure happens repeatedly at night.

6. A medication or hormonal change could be involved.

Certain medicines can cause itching as a side effect, while hormonal changes, including those associated with pregnancy, also contribute to nighttime itching.

7. It could sometimes be linked to an underlying health condition.

Persistent unexplained itching can occur alongside conditions affecting the kidneys, liver or thyroid, as well as diabetes and other blood disorders. However, nighttime itching by itself does not mean you have one of these conditions.

When Should You See a Doctor?

If your itchy skin keeps coming back, interferes with your sleep, becomes severe or is accompanied by a rash, swelling, or signs of infection, it is worth speaking with a healthcare professional. Persistent itching without an obvious cause may require an examination or tests to identify what is triggering it.

In the meantime, avoiding very hot showers, keeping the bedroom comfortably cool and applying a moisturizer can help with some causes of nighttime itching. Try not to scratch aggressively, as breaking the skin increases the risk of infection.