Q At night my hands and feet itch so much that when I scratch, the blisters burst and I can't sleep. What should I do when it itches?
A When it itches, scratching bursts the blisters, causing oozing and raising the risk of secondary infection, so not scratching is most important. Covering the affected area with a cold wet towel to cool the heat sensation reduces the urge to scratch. If nighttime itching is severe, strengthening moisturizing before bed and keeping a cool sleeping environment can help.
Detailed Answer
Nighttime itching is very common in patients with dyshidrotic eczema, and losing sleep disturbs the immune balance again, creating a vicious cycle that worsens symptoms. The key is not scratching. Scratching bursts the blisters, leaving the skin raw and leading to oozing and secondary infection. When it itches, cover the affected area with a cold wet towel to cool the heat sensation, keep your nails short, moisturize thoroughly before bed, and maintain a cool environment.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Dongjedang sees the root of this itching as heat accumulated within the body. So while cooling the heat sensation externally with a cold wet towel, we internally use clearing-heat and resolving-toxin herbal medicine to discharge the heat-toxin and reduce the source of the itch. We also recommend sufficient sleep during the nighttime hours when immunity recovers, because through sleep, immune stabilization and skin regeneration occur at the same time.
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