If you’ve ever dealt with itchy bug bites, you’ve probably noticed they tend to get more irritating after the sun goes down. Why is that? There are a few reasons why bug bites itch more at night.
You notice the itch more when trying to sleep
One of the main reasons bug bites seem more itchy at night is because you notice the sensation more when you’re trying to fall asleep. During the day, you’re active and distracted, so you don’t focus as much on the irritation from a bug bite. But when you lay down in bed and everything is quiet, the itching becomes more apparent.
Your focus isn’t taken up by work, conversation, or other stimuli, so the itchy feeling is harder to ignore. Even a mild itch that you could disregard during the day can become maddening when you’re trying to get some shut-eye.
Your body temperature rises at night
Your circadian rhythm causes subtle changes in your body temperature throughout the 24-hour day. In most people, body temperature is lowest around 5 a.m. and highest in the late afternoon or early evening.
This spike in body heat at night may worsen the itchiness of bug bites. The warmth seems to activate the itch-scratch nerve fibers in your skin, making the irritation more pronounced.
This is why itching often improves when you apply something cool to the bite, like an ice pack or cold compress. The chilling effect counteracts your naturally higher core temperature in the evening.
Histamine levels peak at night
Histamine is a chemical your body releases as part of the inflammatory response to a bite or sting. It triggers nerves in your skin that make you feel itchy.
Research shows histamine levels in the blood peak at night. This naturally-occurring rise in histamine in the evening hours may exacerbate the itchy sensations you feel from insect bites.
Changes in cortisol levels overnight
Cortisol, often called the “stress hormone,” has an itch-inducing effect. Studies show increased cortisol levels make the skin more sensitive to itchy sensations.
Your cortisol levels are typically lowest at night. But in the early morning hours while you sleep, they rise to prep your body for waking up.
This change in cortisol while you sleep could make bug bites feel more itchy in the early morning even if the bite itself hasn’t gotten worse.
Less distraction from itching at night
During the day, you have many things competing for your attention, from work tasks to conversations to background noises. This mental activity serves as a distraction from any itching you may feel from insect bites.
But at night when you’re in bed, it’s much quieter. There are fewer mental distractions, so your mind zeroes in on the itching. Even light itching can become very annoying and hard to disregard when trying to sleep.
You can’t see or scratch the bite
Scratching brings temporary relief from itchy bug bites. But if your bites are covered by pajamas or bedding at night, you can’t see them to scratch. This lack of visual feedback and ability to scratch makes the itchiness feel more intense.
Being unable to find and scratch the source of irritation can drive the itchiness sensation crazy, especially when trying to fall asleep.
Healing bites can itch more
As insect bites start to heal, the damaged skin goes through a regeneration process. This involves increased blood flow and cell turnover in the area. All this extra activity while the bite heals can make it feel more itchy than when it first occurred.
Since healing takes time, bites you got during the day may not itch until night when the true healing process ramps up. Even if you don’t notice the bite much during the day, it may flare up at night as your body works to repair the skin.
How to prevent nighttime itching from bug bites
To help minimize annoying nighttime itchiness from insect bites try these tips:
- Take an oral antihistamine like Benadryl before bed to lower histamine levels
- Apply a cortisone cream to bite sites to reduce inflammation
- Take a cool shower or use an ice pack before bed to lower skin temperature
- Wear light, breathable pajamas so fabric doesn’t rub on bites
- Trim nails short to minimize skin damage if you scratch unconsciously
- Use calamine lotion on bites to help control itching and irritation
- Consider OTC itch relief creams with pramoxine or menthol to numb itch
- Distract yourself by listening to relaxing music or reading before bed
If itching remains severe despite these tips, see your doctor. They may prescribe stronger medications to control inflammation and itching.
When to see a doctor for nighttime itching
In most cases, bug bite itching that worsens at night is annoying but not serious. However, there are some situations where you should seek medical care:
- Itching keeps you up throughout the night and impairs sleep
- Signs of infection like pus, swelling, redness, streaks, or warmth around the bite
- Itching and irritation persist for more than a few days
- You develop hives, rash, or swelling in areas beyond just the bite
- You have severe discomfort, pain, or fatigue from loss of sleep
See a doctor promptly if you experience any of these things so the bite can be evaluated and treated if needed.
The takeaway
Multiple factors can worsen itching from insect bites at night. Your body’s natural circadian rhythms, changes in skin sensitivity overnight, and lack of distractions before bed all enhance itch intensity. Try cooling the bites, reducing inflammation, and distracting yourself to minimize nighttime annoyance.
Most itching resolves within a few days. But if it interferes with sleep or signs of infection develop, seek medical care right away.