It’s #sleepawarenessweek! And for those of us living with skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, we know all too well that it often impacts our ability to get restful, quality sleep.
According to popular, medically-backed publications such as Medical News Today and Every Day Health , symptoms of psoriasis and eczema can worsen at night for a few reasons:
- Our body temperature slightly decreases as night, which can make the skin feel itchy
- Moisturizers applied in the morning or daytime can wear off at night, leaving skin feeling dry and itchy
- People are more likely to scratch in their sleep, which can make itchiness worse.
So how do you prevent the dreaded ‘itchies’ from stealing away your much-needed sleep?
Here are four tips to help you:
Moisturize you skin before bed. Use an oil-based moisturizer, like Curel's Hyrdrotherapy. There are many great ones on the market - be sure to check the ingredients to ensure the main ingredient is oil-based, rather than water-based.
Bathe at night with warm water. While hot baths or showers can exacerbate skin conditions, warm baths can soothe skin and prep it for moisturizer and scale removal. Be sure to use non-irritating soaps that contain soothing ingredients like Aloe, Oatmeal, Tea Tree Oil, and Activated Charcoal to provide extra relief.
Snuggle up with natural fabrics. Linens and pajamas made from 100 percent cotton are much gentler on the skin, and far less likely to cause allergic reactions and irritation.
Chill out. Keep your bedroom or sleeping area comfortable and slightly cool. Sweating or overly warm skin can also make skin feel irritated and itchy.
These tips help us sleep better, and we sincerely hope they help you too! If you’ve found relief as a result of using these tips, or have tips of your own to add, please comment and share!
