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Itchy legs/arms after showering with no rash. Is it stress related?

Every time I shower my skin on my legs and arms (and now increasingly on my lower back) gets incredibly itchy.  There is no rash that appears on my skin and the itching lasts for around half an hour after I get out of the shower.  It started when I was around 13 years old.  I use Aveeno body wash for dry and itchy skin every time I shower, which is made from oatmeal - It helps a little.  The itching is worse when I shave, but it helps when I use natural shaving gels that produce little foam.  When I exfoliate, it also helps the itching to be minimal.  I try not to scratch in the itching areas because if I do, it does not go away and gets worse.  I always moisturise after taking a shower, but it doesnt seem to help that much.  I find that the itching disappears if my mind forgets about it.  I find that I get more itchy if I shower in the day time than if I shower at night.  Is this stress related? Am I causing myself to itch by worrying that I will get itchy whenever I take a shower?   Please help!
Best Answer
1340994 tn?1374193977
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquagenic_urticaria
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Avatar universal
I have the same issue. Itchy skin mainly after morning shower on arms legs torso. It seems nerve end related, so reading up on possible causes is a bit frightening. I stopped using a shower gel brand i switched to and use a non perfumed soap. This helps. But the best help was to soak some paper kitchen towel in 4 parts water 1 part cider vinegar and wipe it liberally on affected areas, 20 minutes before showers.
It really helps stop the nerve end pin itch post shower.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Did you not find it at all related to dry skin.  I had this.  I scratched the heck out of myself!  I got some thick ointment for eczema and put it on after showers.  Within a few days it really helped  ? But you sound like you found something that worked for you.  thanks for sharing
Too early to know for sure, because i havent had this problem before. It happened in last 2 months or so.
I live in Thailand so it cd be heat related. I was under alot of stress recently too. Also went on a diet, and apparently losing weight can cause itchy skin. And I was using a nasty budget shower gel which may be partly causing it.
My regime.. I started taking vitamin B (B12 is important), changed to a non perfumed soap, limiting showers and hot water, using the cider vinegar treatment mentioned above and also using a moisturiser all over after shower. Still some occasional pin itches but certainly much better.
Avatar universal
I have the same problem the pain and itchiness is horrible, I can't seem t find an answer for this, I already wen to the doctor and they have no idea why this happens :-(
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Avatar universal
I’ve had the same problem since I was about 13 years old as well. It usually happens the most during the summer (I live in Nj). I have not been able to get any specific answer on what this issue is. Some years it is worse than others. Sometimes it happens at a random point in the day without showering. If it’s humid outside and wind blows against my skin it can happen. I am just now calming down from an episode of awful itching on my legs which lasted about a half hour. I suffer from anxiety so I am interested in the idea that this is related to the nervous system, affected or triggered by a number of things, and maybe allergy related? If anyone has gotten any further in figuring this out, please let me know.
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Avatar universal
I apply coconut oil all over my skin before the shower, and olive oil after the shower, and it dramatically calms down the itching.
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Avatar universal
I have the same issue.  The things that I find help are: I use laundry detergent free of dyes and perfumes; I never use any kind of dryer sheets; and I use Aveeno (Oatmeal stuff) or a generic knockoff. Also, when staying at many hotels or motels, I don't have the same issues that I have staying at home or with relatives.  The only thing that I can think of that would make a difference is the kind/brand/ingredients of laundry soap and bath soap...but I don't know I could purchase that stuff retail to check that theory.
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Avatar universal
There is an ol ingredient that is extracted from coconutknown as coconut acid or sodium laureth sulfide which is used in most soap and shampoos to create that foamy lather, I find that those products that contains this ingredient causes me to itch uncontrollably after shower. My only relief from itchy get after shower is to avoid products containing that ingredient. I hope this might be helpful.
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Avatar universal
I just started doing my own research on the matter. I have had this same problem for several years now. I noticed if I get dressed right away after I get out of the shower it doesn't itch as much. According to some articles I have read, there isn't anything to do really. I never had this problem when I lived in Florida but since moving to North Carolina it has been unbearable.
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Avatar universal
I'm ichey and 13 years old and don't know wat to do I'm itching Soo hard I am Terig skin off
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Avatar universal
Thank you, but i'm unaware if i'm allergic to any type of food and not sure how to find out.
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1340994 tn?1374193977
I hope the antihistamine helps.  You might see if you have food allergies, such as wheat or dairy.  Sometimes eliminating problematic foods will cause other allergic symptoms to go away completely.  It did for me.  
Helpful - 0
363281 tn?1643235611
Sounds like dry skin and the showers are making it drier. Try using a really moisterizing cream after your bath, this might help.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
It's not dry skin. It really isn't an itch. It feels like every nerve in your legs and arms, are on edge and nothing really takes it away except time.  Usually 30 minutes to an hour. I've tried everything, I've even mentioned it to my doctor and he made me feel like I was making it up. The pain/itch/nerves are unbearable for that 30 to 60 minutes, that I become very irritable and hope nobody is around to get the brunt of my irritability. I usually have to keep rubbing my arms and legs until it finally eases up.
Sorry. When I hit done it changed what I wrote.
Avatar universal
Thank you so much, I've been so the doctor and they didn't know what was wrong. It says that antihistamine can help so i'll take one before i shower to see if it helps.
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