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   1. Getting to grips with your emollient
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   1. The emotional side of eczema
   2. Coping with sleep disruption
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Coping with sleep disruption

Sleeping well is essential for everyone! It enables our bodies to repair and regenerate, leaving us mentally and physically able to function during the day. But night time itching, which is often a problem for people with eczema, can make it difficult to get to sleep and to stay asleep, which can have a huge impact on the quality of sleep you actually get.

If you are struggling to sleep, you may be:

• Irritable and impatient
• Less able to concentrate at work
• More accident prone
• More likely to become emotionally distressed by your eczema

If you are suffering from lack of sleep talk to your doctor or nurse as they may be able to help. There are also some practical steps you can take to get a better nights sleep:

• Keep your skin hydrated to reduce night time itching – Keeping your skin well moisturised is the key to reducing how much it itches. Sticking to an effective daily emollient routine will mean your skin is well hydrated at night, which will help you to sleep.
• Prepare for sleep – Taking a cool bath (preferably with an emollient bath additive) about an hour before you go to bed will help to take heat out of your skin and add vital moisture, both of which will help to reduce the itchiness of your skin. You should apply your emollient, preferably an ointment, at least 30 minutes before bedtime to lock in moisture overnight. Applying cream or ointment to the skin temporarily stimulates nerve endings, so doing it 30 minutes before bed means the feeling will have passed by the time you go to sleep.
• Create a cool sleeping environment – Sleeping in a warm bed, in a warm room can aggravate itching. You can help yourself to stay cool by:
  • Controlling the bedroom temperature (ideally 10-16°C)
  • Making sure the bed isn't next to a radiator
  • Keeping the room ventilated – opening a window can help
  • Avoiding thick duvets – go for lighter, cotton sheets instead
  • Wearing cotton or silk nightwear

Information and support » « The emotional side of eczema