Is itchy skin at night dangerous?

Itching at night can start at any age and there are many factors that cause this condition, identifying the correct cause will help the treatment process go smoothly.

Master - Doctor Thai Thanh Yen (Department of Dermatology - Dermatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City) said that in fact, most symptoms of itchy skin at night can seriously affect the health and sleep of the patient. If this condition persists without treatment, it will make the patient feel tired, and over time will seriously affect the patient's quality of life.

Therefore, to prevent itchy skin at night, understanding the cause is essential for patients.

What causes itchy skin at night?

Itching at night can occur at any age and there are many factors that cause this condition, making it difficult to determine the cause and treat it. However, for young children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, itching at night can have a huge impact on health.

Children who are itchy at night can cry, refuse to breastfeed, have trouble sleeping, be lethargic, and gain weight slowly. Pregnant and postpartum women may experience a decline in physical condition, an increased risk of depression, and a major impact on the mother’s health and the process of caring for their young child. The factors that can cause itchy skin at night include changes in the body’s natural activities.

"At night, when the temperature drops, the body's natural activities, blood flow and body temperature tend to increase, warming the body, which can make the patient feel a slight itch on the skin. In addition, at night, the body will release more cytokines, causing the inflammatory response to increase more, while the production of corticosteroid hormones decreases," Dr. Thanh Yen analyzed.

On the other hand, when the body is dehydrated, it is also one of the causes of itchy skin at night. Especially when the weather is hot and dry, the body is dehydrated, so the lack of moisture on the skin surface causes dry, flaky skin, increases the horny layer more and causes itching.

In addition, it can be caused by some skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, hives, psoriasis... Some diseases inside the body: diseases related to the liver, kidneys, cancer, diabetes... Psychological states such as stress, depression and schizophrenia. Due to parasites such as scabies, lice, worms... Due to allergies to substances such as chemicals, drugs, food or cosmetics...

The body lacks water, so the lack of moisture on the skin surface causes dry, flaky skin, which is also a cause of itching.

Treatment of itchy skin at night

Doctor Thanh Yen said that once the cause of the disease has been clearly identified, the doctor will give specific advice along with treatment instructions for the patient to use the appropriate dosage of medication to have anti-inflammatory and anti-itch effects.

There are some types of old generation antihistamines, new generation antihistamines, antidepressants, topical medications containing Steroids, Calcineurin inhibitors...

However, patients should not arbitrarily use drugs during treatment to limit unwanted effects on health, but should comply with the doctor's instructions to prevent and limit chronic and long-term negative effects on health.

In addition to using medication to treat itching, we also need to adjust our lifestyle such as eating and sleeping appropriately to limit the risk of increased itching. We should exercise regularly with light exercises such as meditation and yoga to relieve stress and tension.

Apply moisturizer before bed to restore the skin barrier. Cleanse your skin regularly with a mild cleanser or pH-neutral soap to avoid damaging the skin barrier. Balance the humidity in your bedroom at night by using a humidifier when the weather is cold and the humidity is low.

"Limit the use of spicy foods and foods and drinks that can easily cause irritation. Instead, eat lots of green vegetables to take care of your skin to make it healthier and smoother. When going to bed, you should not wear clothes that are too tight, you should wear comfortable clothes and prioritize cotton or silk fabrics, etc. Limit scratching and rubbing because if you scratch, not only will it not reduce the itch but it will also damage the skin," Dr. Thanh Yen recommends.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ngua-da-vao-ban-dem-co-nguy-hiem-khong-185241217142425284.htm