What should you know about night sweats and itchy skin?

Heat, sweat, new soaps, detergents, fabrics or dry skin can cause itching that feels worse overnight. Hives may appear as raised, changing patches, while eczema often leaves dry, inflamed or cracked skin. Menopause can cause flushing and sweating, and the skin may itch independently. Infection can bring fever, tiredness or swollen glands; brucellosis, glandular fever and HIV infection are examples of conditions in which sweating may occur. Itching can also accompany lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma or chronic myeloid leukaemia. Most itchy skin is not cancer, and these symptoms alone cannot establish a diagnosis.

Use a cool bedroom, loose cotton clothing and an unperfumed moisturiser after bathing. Avoid scratching when possible; keep nails short and try a cool damp cloth instead. Record whether the itch is local or widespread, whether there is a rash, and what products or medicines were introduced before it began. A pharmacist can suggest suitable relief, while a clinician can assess recurrent sweating, persistent itch or visible skin changes.

Arrange prompt assessment if itching is widespread, disrupts sleep, comes with drenching sweats, fever, weight change, swollen glands or unusual tiredness, or continues despite basic skin care. Seek emergency help if itching comes with swelling of the lips or tongue, wheezing, trouble breathing, blistering skin or faintness. Do not assume the combination points to one particular disease; the distribution and examination matter.

Could a product, medicine or skin disorder explain this? What does the rash pattern suggest? Should I be checked for thyroid, infection or another cause of night sweating?