Have you ever uncontrollably scratched at itchy skin in the middle of the night only to find that not a single mosquito bite, rash, or red spot was visible? The good news is, you weren’t hallucinating. The not-so-good news is your body is itching at night and it might be due to several causes.
Causes of Body Itching
You don’t have to be bitten by bugs or roll through poison ivy to get itchy skin. Some of these causes may surprise you, but here are easy ways to relieve the itching.
Dry Skin
Have you ever been told to drink plenty of water to rehydrate after you wake up? That’s because your body undergoes dehydration when you sleep, which can potentially be causing your lips and skin to dry up during the night. As a result, you’ll find that some parts of your body get itchier during the night.
How to Treat Dry Skin
Take a cold shower whenever the itchiness becomes too uncomfortable, but make sure the shower water is clean, as to not exacerbate the itchiness. Apply natural moisturizers on your skin before bed and drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated.
Bugs
Before you cringe, hear us out. Mosquito and spider bites are relatively obvious as they leave red lumps on your skin, and tend to disappear within a day or two. However, there are bugs that might be causing uncontrollable itching at night, and these might be lice or bed bugs.
How to Treat Bug Bites
If your scalp is itching and you’ve eliminated other causes, you might have a case of head lice. There are special shampoos that are prescribed for head lice. Since bed bugs only hide in dark corners and only come out to feed when you’re asleep, it’s difficult to find them. If you think this is causing the itchiness, consult with a dermatologist for a second opinion, and consider calling pest control.
Warning Signs of Disease
From skin cancer to liver disease, it’s possible itchy skin is a warning sign of certain diseases. Some common causes can also include kidney disease, hepatitis C, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, dialysis, and diabetes.
How to Treat it
Diseases like these should not be taken lightly. Before trying to treat yourself in any way, get a proper diagnosis to understand the cause and your exact situation. If diagnosed with one of these diseases, consult with your doctor for treatments to alleviate the body itching.
Reactions to Water
It’s common for people to get rashes and skin conditions from dirty water like oceans and contaminated ponds, but what most people aren’t aware of is sometimes itchiness can result from your shower water. In many parts of the world where there is a lack of freshwater, people turn to seawater to meet consumers’ growing demands. Water from the ocean undergoes a process of desalination, which results in chlorinated shower water. You could be showering in chlorine and heavy metals that might be harming your skin and you wouldn’t have the slightest clue.
How to Treat it
The best and easiest way to avoid harming your skin with chlorinated water is to install a shower filter. Pure Blue’s shower filter eliminates 98% of the chlorine and toxins in your shower water, so you can ensure the water you shower in is clean and free of impurities, leaving your skin soft and moisturized.
Itchy skin is common and often only lasts a night or a few. It’s important to take care of your skin, keep it moisturized, and avoid getting in contact with harmful substances so you can enjoy itch-free skin and a good night’s sleep.
