Some people with iron deficiency anemia have itchy skin. A food allergy could cause skin to itch at night. Pregnancy, menopause and hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) or hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) can contribute to nighttime itching.Īllergies. Lice and scabies mites are also more active at night. Bed bugs, lice and scabies all cause itching, especially at night. Stress and anxiety can contribute to nighttime itching, as can depression and schizophrenia. Older people are more susceptible to nighttime itching in part because the skin tends to dry out with age. These include psoriasis, eczema and dry skin. Itching related to certain health conditions can be worse at night.Ĭommon skin conditions. It’s also possible that you simply notice itching more when you’re in bed trying to sleep than when you’re busy and distracted during the day. At the same time, the body’s production of corticosteroids, which tame inflammation, declines. This can cause itching or make itching worse. At night, the body releases more cytokines, which are immune system proteins that create inflammation. That water loss is likely due to nighttime changes in the skin’s barrier function, which could also let in more irritants. In addition, skin loses water at night, resulting in dryness that can make you itchy. In the evening, the body releases more heat, and blood flow to the skin increases, which may contribute to nighttime itching. Circadian rhythms influence sleepiness and wakefulness, hormonal activity, hunger, digestion and body temperature, among other things. These are cycles that repeat every 24 hours, controlled by a “master clock” in the brain. You can blame nocturnal itching in part on your body’s circadian rhythms. The causes are not completely understood, but these factors play a role. Itchy skin at night, which doctors call nocturnal pruritus, is fairly common. How many times has this happened to you: You’re in bed, trying to wind down and drift into sleep, and suddenly your skin starts itching - maybe so much so that it’s hard to fall asleep or stay asleep.
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