Q I am 42 years old and live in Dong-incheon. At night I am so itchy that I end up scratching until it oozes, and I lose sleep. What should I do when itchy?
A When itchy, the most important thing is not to scratch, as scratching breaks the skin and causes oozing and increases the risk of secondary infection. Covering the affected area with a cold wet towel can cool the heat sensation and reduce the urge to scratch. For severe nighttime itching, intensifying moisturizing before bed and maintaining a cool sleeping environment improves sleep quality.
Detailed Answer
Nighttime itching is very common in eczema patients, and lack of sleep further worsens immune imbalance, worsening eczema in a vicious cycle. The key is not scratching. Scratching breaks down the skin barrier and leads to oozing and secondary infection. When itchy, cover the affected area with a cold wet towel to cool the heat sensation, apply enough moisturizer before bed, and maintain a cool sleeping environment.
Traditional Korean Medicine Perspective
Dongjeedang views the root of itching as heat (熱) accumulated in the body. Therefore, while externally cooling the heat sensation with a cold wet towel, internally heat-clearing detoxification herbal medicine is used to expel heat toxins and reduce the source of itching. We also recommend sleeping before midnight, the time when immune cells recover, because sleep simultaneously helps both immune stabilization and skin regeneration.
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