Rub petroleum jelly aka Vaseline on the scratches. It sounds as if the outer layer of skin, which is dead, has been scratched away.

Check your mattress for bedbugs. Scabies also itch at night but the back is an unusual site for scabies.

No, but then I can't really see my back :) I would use neosporin if I were you... but again, is it someplace you can reach easily?

Oh my -- my first thought WAS bedbugs! Because I bought a new mattress for the guestroom in September and occasionally sleep there (the room is quieter because it doesn't face the street). And you just really don't know how well stores store their mattress stock. I think that these mattresses did come inside big plastic sheeting, yet if they were tiny bugs, they could infiltrate anything. But don't they leave more of a bite mark than a scratch? Hmm... I'll try the Vaseline and then the Neosporin. Thanks!

The bugs bite, you scratch. You may not remember doing so.

Neosporin always, it's an anibiotic. My doctors and ER always recommended it.

Nothing to worry about, it's probably only evil demons from hell attacking you while you sleep. HAHA! Just kidding but that's the first thing that popped into my head. I've been watching too much A Haunting! :)

I've gotten them from feather quills poking through the pillow or down bed mattress topper. They can look awful.

Scratches on your back is hard to explain unless there is someone else or a critter in bed with you. However, scratches on your leg from the knee and downward might be caused by yourself. I scratched myself a week ago and finally discovered it was from my toe nail. After I enter deep sleep, I may roll into a new position and fold my legs up or lay one leg across the other. That's when I gouge myself. Smoothing off the toe nails helps.

If it were bedbugs you'd also have a very itchy bite mark similar to a mosquito bite. So if you only have scratches, it's not bedbugs.

Yes and elsewhere lol The other morning I noticed that on the top of my nose it looked bloody. Must have scratched there during the night. Very dry skin for me.

Mary

I've found nothing better than coconut oil to speed up the healing of cuts and scratches, mild burns, and a long list of other ailments.

As a consequence of my daily use of it after a shower, my fingernails have become strong and gorgeous! Before I made coconut oil a daily habit, my nails were prone to shredding, breaking, and discoloration. I've been meaning to share that with you, and this thread reminded me. ;-)

Hi Pammy Fay,

When you go out partying ... close the bottle and come home sooner?

Well ... maybe not necessarily the "come home sooner" part.

If it's bedbugs - they'll itch!

o j

On my back, no. But I used to fairly often wake up with my sheets and pillowcase streaked with blood and mysterious injuries in random places.

It took me months to figure out that the cause was my engagement ring. At the time, I had a marquis stone and would wear it to bed. I'm an active sleeper, so what was happening was that I was moving around and adjusting the covers, which was causing the stone to move to the palm side of my hand. So any time I moved anything with my hands, I was digging the ring into my skin.

The only way I realized what was happening was when my husband grabbed my hand one afternoon, kind of twisted to hold hands with me, and my ring ended up slicing his palm. I didn't realize it was that sharp, so the next time I had an injury, I inspected my ring and found blood.

I have a different ring now, but I won't wear any sort of pronged ring to bed anymore.

Anyway, just a thought!

Some engagement ... that causes blood in the bed ... would that ring true, do ya figger?

o j

I think the Neosporin is helping, but maybe I should start wearing mittens to bed!

I think I tear away at my skin while sleeping, once in a while I can remember doing it, and I use the very best moisturizing creams to counteract what I think is dry skin. I use dermal therapy lotion, it's highly recommended and since starting it, I've seen less scratch marks.