Sleep

IIf your eczema is waking you up at night, it is a sign that it is getting out of control and you may need to use a flare control cream.

Check out the ‘flare control creams’ section from the menu above to find out more.

The next few pages will give you tips on reducing night-time scratching and getting a good night’s sleep.

Lots of people with eczema find that itching is the main thing stopping them getting a good night’s sleep. Itching can feel worse when you are hot.

Tips for helping you itch less at night:

• Use a thinner duvet or just a few sheets in the summer.
• Keep the bedroom cool by opening the window during the day.
• If you are allergic to tree and grass pollen, you may want to close the window when it starts to get dark as pollen levels rise at sunrise and sunset.
• Keep the heating off or low in your bedroom in the winter.
• Use plain cotton or bamboo sheets if you can.
• Loose fitting cotton pyjamas will help keep you cool.
• Have a bath or shower about an hour before bed and use moisturising creams after. This can help soothe the skin during the night.

Some people find they wake up scratching. Sometimes this can break the skin and make it bleed.

• Speak to your doctor or nurse if you are moisturising daily and using the flare control cream as directed and there is still no improvement after 2-4 weeks.
• You can keep a moisturising cream near the bed in case you need it at night.
• Some people prefer to keep their moisturising cream in the fridge so that it is cool and soothing.
• Taking off some of the bed sheets or turning them over can be refreshing in the night and can keep you cool.
• If you are scratching so much the skin bleeds, you may find your skin can stick to the sheets. Some people find it useful to wear loose clothing or use special bandages to protect the skin area. It would be best to speak to a doctor or nurse about using bandages.
• You can find out more about scratching in the ‘ Beat the Itch ’ section, which you can get from the ‘ living well with eczema ’ menu above.

Many people find winding down before going to sleep helps with de-stressing. Ways to wind down include:

• Reading

• Listening to music

• Screens off an hour before sleep time

• Relaxation techniques – You can find out about some of these techniques in the ‘ stress and eczema ’ section, which you can get from the ‘ living well with eczema ’ menu above.

Antihistamines are medicines used to make the symptoms of allergies better. You can get sedating or non-sedating antihistamines. You may have heard about people with eczema using antihistamines before going to sleep.

Antihistamines do not help reduce the eczema itch and there is no strong evidence that antihistamines help with going to sleep. Although, some people with eczema find it helps.

If you do decide to take antihistamines before bedtime they should be taken about an hour before. They should only be used for a few days at a time. This is because people get used to them quickly and they stop working as well.