How to limit night-time itching linked to eczema?

A-DERMA

Visuel enfant qui dort, Fiche conseil eczema nuit

When you suffer from eczema, itching is often more difficult to bear in the evening and at night. The skin is drier, the heat of the bed and perspiration can accentuate the discomfort, and the stillness of the night also makes the sensations more present. Scratching then becomes involuntary, weakening the skin and disrupting sleep.

Fortunately, by implementing a regular, adapted evening routine, it's possible to better control nocturnal itching, protect the skin during the night and return to a more comfortable sleep, for children and adults alike.

An evening routine to limit eczema-related itching at night

Gentle skin cleansing
Building good habits
Why?
Washing too hot or too aggressively can dry out the skin and increase itching during the night.
How?
Take a lukewarm shower or bath: never a hot one
Stay for a short time: 5 to 10 minutes
Use a mild soap-free cleanser
Pat skin dry without rubbing
Apply care products before bedtime
Restore and protect the skin barrier
Why?
Skin dries out more at night. Well-nourished, moisturized skin is less itchy.
How?
Apply the treatment prescribed by your doctor, if any.
Then apply an emollient skin care product suitable for night-time use
Allow to penetrate well before going to bed
Protecting the skin while you sleep
Limit involuntary night-time scratching
Why?
During sleep, scratching is often involuntary. It sustains skin inflammation and can aggravate lesions.
How?
Apply skincare products early enough for skin to be soothed and nourished at bedtime (skin should no longer feel sticky or uncomfortable).
Go to bed when skin is calm, without immediate tightness or itching.
Anticipate the possibility of waking up at night: keep the skin care product close at hand to calm the skin quickly, without scratching.

The right reflexes to complement a care routine

Avoid heat in the evening: a room that's too warm, a thick comforter or clothes that are too warm can increase itching. Aim for a temperature of around 18 - 20°C.

Choose natural materials for the night: opt for loose-fitting cotton pyjamas (same goes for bed linen) and avoid wool or synthetic materials in direct contact with the skin.

Keep fingernails short and clean, especially for children, to limit lesions caused by involuntary scratching. Cotton gloves can be used if necessary.

Air the room every day and limit sources of dust and dust mites (carpets, accumulation of textiles, lint).

Follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor, even when itching improves, and continue to apply emollient care products daily.

1.

Wash

EXOMEGA CONTROL

Anti-Scratching Emollient Shower Oil

2.

Soothe

EXOMEGA CONTROL

Night

Soothing anti-scratch bath

3.

Feeding

EXOMEGA CONTROL

Repairing emollient night cream

Steps in the EXOMEGA CONTROL evening routine

How to use the various pre-bedtime care products?

1
A fragrance-free hygiene product, emollient cleansing oil can be used in the shower or bath: apply to wet skin and rinse off.
2
In bath water (not exceeding 35°C), dilute 4 capfuls of Bain Apaisant anti-grattage for a child and 8 capfuls for an adult. Do not rinse. Dry without rubbing.
3
On clean, slightly damp skin after bathing or showering, apply Emollient Night Cream to the affected areas. If a local treatment has been prescribed, apply it beforehand according to medical recommendations.

How to soothe itching during attacks?

You need to divert your attention or try a relaxation method such as meditation.

One trick is to keep a small, flat pebble by your bed to run over your skin when it's too itchy. Between the cold of the stone and the gentle massage of the area, it's a way of deceiving itchy sensations without hurting yourself, whether you're young or old.

Others prefer to apply a cool compress or a clean, fresh washcloth. But don't apply an ice cube directly to the skin: the intense cold can irritate or burn the skin.

Doctor's stamp