Night-time itching can make it difficult to settle down and leave you waking up uncomfortable. If you live with eczema, a gentle evening routine can help you organise your skin care, choose comfortable clothing and prepare your bedroom for sleep.
Getting a better night’s sleep matters, but there is no routine that works for everyone. Start with a few manageable steps that fit around your usual eczema treatment and adjust them to suit your skin.
Why Can Eczema Disrupt Sleep?
Changes in skin temperature, moisture loss and your body’s daily rhythms may contribute to night-time itching. Clothing, bedding and products your skin reacts to can also affect comfort.
For a fuller explanation, read our guide to why eczema is worse at night. Here, we’ll focus on preparing for bed.
A Gentle Bedtime Routine for Eczema
1. Prepare your bedroom
Make your room comfortably cool and choose bedding that allows you to adjust your layers. Avoid piling on heavy covers if they leave you hot or sweaty.
2. Wash gently, if bathing is part of your routine
Use lukewarm water and products your skin already tolerates. Pat your skin gently dry rather than rubbing. A bath or shower does not need to be part of every evening if it makes your skin uncomfortable.
3. Follow your usual skin-care plan
Apply your usual emollient and use prescribed treatments as directed. Follow your healthcare professional’s instructions about the order and timing of different products rather than introducing a new balm or oil simply because it is labelled natural.
4. Put on comfortable nightwear
Choose soft clothing with comfortable seams, minimal irritating labels and a fit that allows movement without rubbing. Adjust the thickness of your nightwear to avoid becoming too warm.
Explore our adult eczema nightwear and kids’ eczema nightwear, including cotton pyjamas and garments with built-in scratch mittens.
5. Check any hand coverings or scratch protection
If cotton gloves or integrated mittens are part of your usual routine, make sure they are clean and fit comfortably. They may help reduce damage from fingernails, but they do not treat eczema or guarantee that scratching will stop.
Use wet wraps only with guidance from your healthcare professional, particularly when applying prescribed treatments underneath them.
6. Give yourself time to wind down
Choose a quiet activity such as reading, listening to music or a familiar bedtime story. Try to keep the routine manageable and repeatable, without putting pressure on yourself or your child to fall asleep immediately.
If You Wake Up Itchy
For advice on managing discomfort and reducing scratching damage, read our guide to how to stop eczema itching at night.
If itching regularly disrupts your sleep despite following your treatment plan, speak to your GP or dermatology team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should an eczema bedtime routine include?
A simple routine can include preparing a comfortable bedroom, following your usual skin-care plan, putting on soft nightwear and taking time to wind down. Adapt it to your symptoms rather than adding lots of new products or steps.
When should emollient be applied before bed?
Include it in your evening skin-care routine and follow the instructions for your usual product. If you also use prescribed creams or ointments, follow your healthcare professional’s advice about the timing between treatments.
What should I wear to sleep with eczema?
Choose soft, comfortable nightwear that does not rub or make you too warm. Check seams, labels, cuffs and waistbands as well as fabric composition. Cotton pyjamas are often a comfortable option.
