How to Relieve Itchy Hands and Feet at Night

Itchy feet and hands, also called pruritus, can be a symptom of different skin conditions such as an allergic rash, psoriasis, or dermatitis.[1] It can be painful or extremely irritating, and your skin may be rough, red, or have bumps and blisters. You may also notice that the itching is worse at night. If you are dealing with itchy hands and feet, then it is important to get a diagnosis by your doctor. However, there are also some things you can try at home to alleviate the discomfort of itchy hands and feet.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Treating Nighttime Itchiness at Home

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    Keep yourself from scratching. Avoid scratching as much as possible. Scratching your skin can exacerbate symptoms, or cause other problems, including a skin infection.[2]
    • Keeping your nails trimmed may help you avoid scratching.
    • Consider wearing gloves at night and while you sleep to help keep you from scratching.
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    Hydrate your skin. Moisturize the skin on your hands and feet before you go to bed to help minimize itching or prevent it. You can help bolster your moisturizing by using a humidifier in your room.[3]
    • Apply moisturizer to your skin at least once a day. The best time to apply is after a shower or bath while your skin is still damp. Concentrate the moisturizer on the areas that itch the most both after your shower and before bed.
    • Make sure to use unscented and uncolored moisturizers that will not irritate your skin.
    • Keeping a humidifier in your bedroom can ensure that the air is moist and won’t dry out your skin and make you want to itch while you’re sleeping.
    • Avoid temperature extremes which can dry out skin.
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    Soak in a lukewarm bath. Taking a bath in lukewarm water can soothe itchy skin and help decrease inflammation. You may want to consider adding a colloidal oatmeal preparation to help further soothe your skin.[4]
    • Sprinkle water with baking soda, uncooked oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal, all of which can help calm your skin.[5]
    • Stay in the bathtub for only 10-15 minutes. When you soak in the bath for too long, your skin can get dried out, which in turn could cause it to itch more.
    • Make sure that the water is lukewarm rather than hot. Hot water can remove the natural oils from your skin, causing your skin to become dry and even itchier.
    • After taking a bath, rub lotion on your skin before fully drying off, concentrating on your hands and feet. Doing this will lock the moisture from your bath into your skin, keeping your skin hydrated and less likely to become itchy.
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    Apply a cool or wet compress. Place a cold, cool, or wet compress on your hands and feet when you go to bed. Cold packs or compresses can help relieve itching and inflammation associated with pruritis by constricting blood flow and cooling the skin.[6]
    • You can place a cold compress on your rashes intermittently for 10 to 15 minutes or until you fall asleep.
    • If you don’t have an ice pack, you can use a bag of frozen vegetables for the same effect.
    • Do not let the ice rest directly on your skin. Make sure to wrap the ice or ice pack in a cloth. If ice is left to rest on your skin too long, it may cause frostbite.
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    Wear loose, smooth pajamas. Prevent and relieve itching by wearing pajamas that won’t irritate your skin. These garments can also serve to protect your skin against further scratching.[7]
    • Wear cool, loose, smooth textured pajamas made out of cotton or merino wool to keep yourself from scratching and prevent excess sweating.
    • Cotton clothing is good because it lets air pass through the fabric and is soft to the touch.
    • Consider wearing socks and gloves to help prevent scratching.
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    Create a comfortable and cool sleeping environment. Sleep in a bedroom that is comfortable, cool, and well ventilated.[8] By controlling factors such as the temperature and darkness, having comfortable bedding, and keeping air circulating, you may help prevent your hands and feet from itching.
    • Set temperature in bedroom to between 60-75 degrees for optimal sleeping conditions.[9]
    • Use a fan to keep air circulating or open a window.
    • Sleep in comfortable, natural fiber sheets, such as cotton.
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    Monitor your skin for symptoms of an infection. When you have dry, itchy hands and feet, you may be at a higher risk of getting a superficial superficial skin infection, also known as cellulitis.[10] If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your doctor right away:[11]
    • Redness
    • Swelling
    • Pain and/or tenderness
    • Skin that feels warm to the touch
    • Fever
    • Red spots, dimpling, and/or blisters
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Preventing Itchy Hands and Feet at Night

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    Maintain proper foot and hand care. Wash your feet and hands regularly to minimize the risk of fungal and bacterial infections, which can be extremely itchy. Use a mild soap, which is sufficient to keep your feet and hands clean and prevent infection.
    • Wear absorbent, cotton socks to help prevent your feet from getting itchy if your feet tend to sweat a lot.
    • Wear gloves made of a natural fiber such as cotton to prevent itchiness.
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    Choose mild or “hypoallergenic” soaps and laundry detergents. When you purchase soaps and detergents, choose products that are labeled mild, scent free, dye free, or hypoallergenic. These products contain fewer harmful chemicals that can irritate your skin and cause itchiness.[12]
    • Any product marked “hypoallergenic” has been tested for sensitive skin and will not irritate your skin.
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    Avoid allergens and irritants. Pruritus can can occur because of an allergen or a specific irritant. Knowing what triggers your itching spells can help you avoid the irritant and help relieve and further discomfort.[13]
    • The trigger could be an allergen, food allergy, cosmetic, environmental factor, insect bite, or harsh soap or detergent.
    • If you wear jewelry, the itching could be a product of an allergy to the metals in it.
    • If you suspect a specific trigger, try to limit your exposure to it and see if it relieves your symptoms.
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    Stay hydrated. When your skin becomes itchy, a signal is sent to your brain that tells you you need more water. This is because itchiness can often be brought on by dehydration. At the same time, if the inner layer of your skin does not get enough moisture, it can lead to an itching sensation. Drink water throughout the day and make sure to drink a full glass before you go to bed.[14]
    • Try to drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water a day. If you get bored with water, add some juice to the water to give it some flavor.
    • You can also eat food with high water content like cucumbers, cherries, tomatoes, celery, green peppers, watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, and broccoli.[15]
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    Avoid known irritants and allergens. Your condition might become worse if you expose yourself to potential irritants like chemicals or pollen. If you know the things that you are allergic to—including food and dust—do your best to stay away from them.[16]
    • If you don’t know what you are allergic to, go to an allergy specialist who will run some tests to figure out what substances you are allergic to.
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    Steer clear of vasodilators and excessive sweating. Certain foods and beverages that are known as vasodilators, including coffee and alcohol, can exacerbate itchiness. Excess sweating can also make it worse. Avoiding vasodilators and situations that cause you to sweat profusely may help minimize your itching and discomfort.[17]
    • Common vasodilators are caffeine, alcohol, spices, and hot water.
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    Reduce stress. Having undue stress in your life can exacerbate itching.[18] Trying to reduce the amount you have in your life may minimize or heal your itching.
    • You can use a variety of techniques to reduce stress including therapy, meditation, yoga, or exercise.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Medical Treatments

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    Visit your doctor. If your itching doesn’t subside after a week or you become very uncomfortable, see your doctor. The doctor may prescribe oral medications, steroid creams, or light therapy for your itching.[19]
    • See your doctor if: you're so uncomfortable that it disrupts your sleep or ability to function daily, your skin is painful, self-care and home remedies haven’t worked, or you suspect your skin is infected.
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    Apply calamine lotion or anti-itch cream. Applying a calamine lotion or non-prescription anti-itch cream can relieve the symptoms of itching. You can purchase these creams at grocery and drug stores both in-store and online.[20]
    • A nonprescription anti-itch, or hydrocortisone, cream, can help relieve itching. Make sure to purchase a cream with at least 1% hydrocortisone.
    • Look for anti-itch creams that contain camphor, menthol, phenol, pramoxine and benzocaine
    • Apply these creams to your hands and feet before you moisturize your skin. Your doctor may also suggest applying the cream to the affected area and then covering it with a moist bandage to help your skin absorb the cream more effectively.
    • Follow the specific product instructions for how often you can use the cream on your skin.
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    Ingest over-the-counter oral antihistamines. These drugs can neutralize allergens and help relieve itching and skin inflammation. There are many different over the counter antihistamines that are available at drug and grocery stores both in store and online.[21]
    • Chlorpheniramine is available in 2mg and 4mg. You can take 4mg every 4 to 6 hours. Don’t exceed 24mg per day.[22]
    • Diphenhydramine is Available in 25mg and 50mg. You can take 25mg every 4 to 6 hours. Don’t exceed 300mg per day.[23]
    • These drugs often have the added benefit of sedative effects, which can help if you are having trouble sleeping.
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    Consider taking antidepressants. There is evidence that selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, may help relieve pruritis. Talk to your doctor about this option if other treatments aren’t working.[24]
    • Common SSRIs used to treat skin itching are fluoxetine and sertraline.
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    Rub prescription corticosteroids into itchy areas. When the itching is not relieved by applying an over the counter topical corticosteroid, your doctor may prescribe either a stronger topical or oral corticosteroid such as prednisone.[25]
    • Oral steroids can have serious side effects when used long term.[26]
    • Continue to moisturize your skin while using oral and topical corticosteroids. Not only will they keep your skin hydrated, but they may help prevent itching when you discontinue use of the steroids.
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    Use a calcineurin inhibitor cream. When no other treatment works, get a calcineurin inhibitor cream that can help repair your skin. These drugs, which include tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, can help maintain normal skin and minimize itching.[27]
    • Calcineurin inhibitors directly affect the immune system and come with potential side effects including kidney problems, high blood pressure and headaches.[28]
    • These drugs are prescribed only when other treatments have failed and are approved for anyone over the age of two.[29]
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    Undergo light therapy. A doctor may prescribe multiple sessions phototherapy (light therapy) to help relieve your itchy. This very effective treatment can be as simple as limited sun exposure to using artificial light, though it does not come without risk factors.[30]
    • Phototherapy exposes the skin to controlled amounts of natural sunlight or artificial ultraviolet A (UVA) and narrow band UVB. This treatment can be used alone with in conjunction with medications.
    • Light exposure increases your risk for premature aging and skin cancer.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0915/p1135.html
  2. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/itching.html
  3. ↑ https://familydoctor.org/condition/pruritus/
  4. ↑ https://familydoctor.org/condition/pruritus/
  5. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/aa67251
  6. ↑ https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/dermatology/pruritus-itch/
  7. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/itchy-skin/
  8. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/getting-better-sleep.htm
  9. ↑ http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips
  1. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/Cellulitis.html
  2. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/skininfections.html
  3. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/aa67251
  4. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/itching.html
  5. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/itching.html
  6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dehydrated-these-7-foods-will-satisfy-your-thirst-and-hunger/
  7. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/itching.html
  8. ↑ https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0915/p1135.html
  9. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5845794/
  10. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11879-pruritus
  11. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/aa67251
  12. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/itchy-skin/
  13. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682543.html#how
  14. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682539.html#how
  15. ↑ https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/dermatology/pruritus-itch/
  16. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11879-pruritus
  17. ↑ https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0915/p1135.html
  18. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1661653/
  19. ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/calcineurin-inhibitors
  20. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15799678
  21. ↑ https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/dermatology/pruritus-itch/

About This Article

Troy A. Miles, MD
Medically reviewed by:
Troy A. Miles, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
This article was medically reviewed by Troy A. Miles, MD. Dr. Miles is an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Adult Joint Reconstruction in California. He received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2010, followed by a residency at the Oregon Health & Science University and fellowship at the University of California, Davis. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the North Pacific Orthopaedic Society. This article has been viewed 568,895 times.
22 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 19
Updated: February 3, 2022
Views: 568,895
Categories: Featured Articles | Foot Problems | Arm and Hand Health | Itchy Skin (Pruritis)

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

Itchy feet and hands at night can be irritating, but luckily you can treat them at home or seek medical care for more serious itchiness. Try wearing gloves while you sleep to stop you scratching, which can irritate your skin and make the itchiness worse. You can also apply moisturizer to your hands and feet before going to bed, since well-hydrated skin is less prone to itchiness. Alternatively, apply a calamine lotion or non-prescription anti-itchiness cream, which you can buy from the drug store. Placing a cold compress or cool cloth on your hands or feet can also reduce inflammation and relieve itching. If your itchiness doesn’t go away after a week or starts feeling very uncomfortable, see your doctor for a diagnosis of the problem. They may recommend that you undergo phototherapy sessions to deal with your itchy hands. For tips from our medical co-author, including how to avoid allergens and irritants that may cause itchiness, keep reading.

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