Aa
Itching and Anxiety
When I take a shower my legs, my arms, and sometimes my chest itch like crazy. I don't have dry skin by any means and I use hypoallergenic body lotion daily. The itching is more like a tingling but its very irritating. I don't know what to do to get rid of it. My doctor told me I have anxiety and tried to put me on anti-depressants, but I am too scared of the side effects so I don't think I will take any but I'm wondering if this itching could be a result of anxiety. Any thoughts?
Hi Laurie25
What you described is EXACTLY what I'm also going through. I also have anxiety as I recently moved to new country and can't go to the doctor now. I have this head to toe itching and tingling that never stop (unless I'm sleeping). I was wondering if you found anything about your situation regarding this...Have you found any remedies? I would greatly appreciate your feedback ...
What you described is EXACTLY what I'm also going through. I also have anxiety as I recently moved to new country and can't go to the doctor now. I have this head to toe itching and tingling that never stop (unless I'm sleeping). I was wondering if you found anything about your situation regarding this...Have you found any remedies? I would greatly appreciate your feedback ...
Hi, Iv been itching all over especially my hands and thighs mostly at night,i get swollen after scratching, doctors told me its all in my mind n have anxiety .. bt its been happening for 6 months now :( i take antihistamines to calm down the itch, it hepls though i get sleepy. Please help me,anyone.. wat can I DOOO???
I have been having itching all over my body without any types of bites. I think it may due to some brought on anxiety. I have always suffered from anxiety in general but have never had itching like this days on end. It has been two weeks now and only have relife at night when im asleep an mind is at ease. I also feel my skin like it is on fire in my back of neck and ears. I swear it feels like little bits of electricity running through me. I hope to get relife soon I feel for others who live with this every day..
HI,
I'M SO SORRY TO HEAR OF PEOPLE SUFFERING WITH THIS aquagenic pruritis. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HAD ALLERGIES, ECZEMA OR ANY KIND OF VIOLENT SKIN ITCHING HAVE NO IDEA HOW MISERABLE THIS CAN BE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH 6-YR-OLD-TWINS AND HAVE SUFFERED WITH ECZEMA AND ODD FORMS OF DERMATITIS ALL MY LIFE. I MYSELF HAVE MANAGED TO HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL BUT WHEN MY SONS STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF ECZEMA ON THE BACKS OF THEIR LEGS AND ARMS, I WENT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. I DID A BUNCH OF RESEARCH AND CAME UP WITH MY OWN FORMULA. I USE AVEENO LOTION AND POUR HALF THE BOTTLE INTO ANOTHER BOTTEL. I THEN MIX ORGANIC COLD PRESSED VIRGIN (THE GREENER THE BETTER) OLIVE OIL INTO THE HALF FULL LOTION BOTTLE. I ONLY FILL IT WITH ABOUT A 1/2 A CUP, THEN IT'S A TEASPOON OF ORGANIC SWEET ALMOND OIL AND IN THE WINTER I ADD A 1/4 CUP OF PURE VEGETABLE GLYCERINE TO IT. I SHAKE IT UP AND APPLE IT TO MY SONS' ENTIRE BODY AFTER EACH BATH/SHOWER. THAT TOOK CARE OF IT AT LEAST THE RASH ON THEIR BODIES. THEY HAVE NO MORE ECZEMA ON THEIR BODIES. BUT ONE OF MY SONS DOES ON OCCASION EXPERIENCE THIS AFTER SHOWER/BATH ITCHING. HE ONLY GETS IT ON THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS BUT IT'S VIOLENT. AT FIRST I WAS APPLYING SOMETHING CALLED OCEAN POTION (MOSTLY BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING I HAD WITHIN REACH WITH ALOE AND LIDOCAINE IN IT). IT WORKS BUT IT TAKES A WHILE AND I HAVE TO HOLD MY SON'S HANDS IN FRONT OF A FAN SO THAT HE WILL NOT SCRATCH WHILE THE MEDICINE IN THE POTION TAKES EFFECT. I HAVE SINCE COME UP WITH MY OWN REMEDY ONCE AGAIN. I BELIEVE DERMATOLOGY IS LIKE SPACE EXPLORATION, THESE DOCTORS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE. I REALLY BELIEVE IT IS THE LEAST UNDERSTOOD OF ALL MEDICAL SPECIALITIES. HERE IS WHAT I DO FOR MY SON. THIS IS MY MIXTURE. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THIS BECAUSE SINCE MEDICINES CAN BE ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN YOU NEED TO AVOID USING THIS IF YOUR CHILD IS ALREADY TAKING AN ANTIHISTAMINE ESPECIALLY DIPHENHYDRAMINE. I GET THE BENADRYL THAT COMES IN CAPSULE FORM. EVERY WEEK I CRUSH 5 CAPSULES OF BENADRYL AND I MIX IT WITH A LITTLE WATER AND BAKING SODA. IF MY SON HAPPENS TO EXPERIENCE THIS ODD ITCHING I TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF POULTICE AND MIX IT AROUND WITH A CRAFT POPSICLE STICK AND I ADMINISTER A SMALL AMOUNT TO THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS. I THEN WRAP HIS HANDS WITH WASHRAG AND HAVE HIM HOLD AN ICE CUBE IN EACH HAND. THE ICE CUBES HELP KNUMB THE ITCHING WHILE THE POULTICE WORKS. IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND THEN I REMOVE THE ICE CUBES AND WASH RAG AND THEN HIS ITCHING IS GONE. IN FACT HE WIPES THE STUFF OFF ON A TOWEL. DONE. I HAVE NO IDEA IF ITS REALLY THE BENADRYL, THE BAKING SODA OR THE ICE CUBES, BUT IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT. I MIGHT TRY TO OMIT THE BENADRYL AS I REALLY DON'T LIKE SEDATIVES EVEN ON THE SKIN. THIS HOWEVER IS ANOTHER ANSWER FOR THIS ODD ITCHING OVER THE WHOLE BODY. hAVE YOU TRIED TAKING BENADRYL PRIOR TO SHOWERING? iT'S FINE AT NIGHT, BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU DROWSY BUT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR MORNING SHOWERS BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A SEDATIVE. UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO BE IMMUNE TO IT'S SEDATIVE EFFECT. BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT ORAL BENADRYL WILL STOP ANY ITCH. THE PROBLEM IS IT ALSO TURNS YOU INTO A ZOMBIE!!! ALSO PROLONGED USE CAN CAUSE RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME. CRAZY!!!!! BUT IT GOES AWAY AFTER YOU STOP TAKING THE BENADRYL. I'VE NEEDED IT A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I HAVE PRURIGO NODULARIS NOW ON ACCOUNT OF MY 30-YR ITCH/SCRATCH CYCLE. ANYWAY, THAT'S NOT THE SAME AS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH I WISH YOU ALL GOOD LUCK. I DON'T REALLY THINK IT'S IN THE SOAP THOUGH. EXCEPT THAT RUBBING THE SKIN WITH A TOWEL AFTER A BATH DOES SEEM TO MAKE IT WIRSE. NEVER RUB, ONLY PAT DRY. IN FACT I DON'T DRY IT ALL. I SPRITZ MY WHOLE BODY WITH SOMETHING CALLED "SKIN FREE AFTER SHOWER MOISTURE SPRITZ." I GOT IT IN THE NATURAL FOODS SECTION AT MY GROCERY STORE. I'M ALSO TRYING THE BAR SOAP AND SO FAR SO GOOD. BUT AS FOR MY SON, I HOPE THIS PRICKLY ITCH EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY. I CAN ONLY HOPE. MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION WHN IT COMES TO SKIN PROBLEMS. SEE A DERMATOLOGIST AND AN ALLERGIST. COMPARE THEIR ADVICE AND DIAGNOSES, THEN IF YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE, GET A SECOND OPINION. AFTER THAT, DO RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. SOMETIMES IT'S UP TO US. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
I'M SO SORRY TO HEAR OF PEOPLE SUFFERING WITH THIS aquagenic pruritis. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HAD ALLERGIES, ECZEMA OR ANY KIND OF VIOLENT SKIN ITCHING HAVE NO IDEA HOW MISERABLE THIS CAN BE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH 6-YR-OLD-TWINS AND HAVE SUFFERED WITH ECZEMA AND ODD FORMS OF DERMATITIS ALL MY LIFE. I MYSELF HAVE MANAGED TO HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL BUT WHEN MY SONS STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF ECZEMA ON THE BACKS OF THEIR LEGS AND ARMS, I WENT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. I DID A BUNCH OF RESEARCH AND CAME UP WITH MY OWN FORMULA. I USE AVEENO LOTION AND POUR HALF THE BOTTLE INTO ANOTHER BOTTEL. I THEN MIX ORGANIC COLD PRESSED VIRGIN (THE GREENER THE BETTER) OLIVE OIL INTO THE HALF FULL LOTION BOTTLE. I ONLY FILL IT WITH ABOUT A 1/2 A CUP, THEN IT'S A TEASPOON OF ORGANIC SWEET ALMOND OIL AND IN THE WINTER I ADD A 1/4 CUP OF PURE VEGETABLE GLYCERINE TO IT. I SHAKE IT UP AND APPLE IT TO MY SONS' ENTIRE BODY AFTER EACH BATH/SHOWER. THAT TOOK CARE OF IT AT LEAST THE RASH ON THEIR BODIES. THEY HAVE NO MORE ECZEMA ON THEIR BODIES. BUT ONE OF MY SONS DOES ON OCCASION EXPERIENCE THIS AFTER SHOWER/BATH ITCHING. HE ONLY GETS IT ON THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS BUT IT'S VIOLENT. AT FIRST I WAS APPLYING SOMETHING CALLED OCEAN POTION (MOSTLY BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING I HAD WITHIN REACH WITH ALOE AND LIDOCAINE IN IT). IT WORKS BUT IT TAKES A WHILE AND I HAVE TO HOLD MY SON'S HANDS IN FRONT OF A FAN SO THAT HE WILL NOT SCRATCH WHILE THE MEDICINE IN THE POTION TAKES EFFECT. I HAVE SINCE COME UP WITH MY OWN REMEDY ONCE AGAIN. I BELIEVE DERMATOLOGY IS LIKE SPACE EXPLORATION, THESE DOCTORS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE. I REALLY BELIEVE IT IS THE LEAST UNDERSTOOD OF ALL MEDICAL SPECIALITIES. HERE IS WHAT I DO FOR MY SON. THIS IS MY MIXTURE. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THIS BECAUSE SINCE MEDICINES CAN BE ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN YOU NEED TO AVOID USING THIS IF YOUR CHILD IS ALREADY TAKING AN ANTIHISTAMINE ESPECIALLY DIPHENHYDRAMINE. I GET THE BENADRYL THAT COMES IN CAPSULE FORM. EVERY WEEK I CRUSH 5 CAPSULES OF BENADRYL AND I MIX IT WITH A LITTLE WATER AND BAKING SODA. IF MY SON HAPPENS TO EXPERIENCE THIS ODD ITCHING I TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF POULTICE AND MIX IT AROUND WITH A CRAFT POPSICLE STICK AND I ADMINISTER A SMALL AMOUNT TO THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS. I THEN WRAP HIS HANDS WITH WASHRAG AND HAVE HIM HOLD AN ICE CUBE IN EACH HAND. THE ICE CUBES HELP KNUMB THE ITCHING WHILE THE POULTICE WORKS. IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND THEN I REMOVE THE ICE CUBES AND WASH RAG AND THEN HIS ITCHING IS GONE. IN FACT HE WIPES THE STUFF OFF ON A TOWEL. DONE. I HAVE NO IDEA IF ITS REALLY THE BENADRYL, THE BAKING SODA OR THE ICE CUBES, BUT IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT. I MIGHT TRY TO OMIT THE BENADRYL AS I REALLY DON'T LIKE SEDATIVES EVEN ON THE SKIN. THIS HOWEVER IS ANOTHER ANSWER FOR THIS ODD ITCHING OVER THE WHOLE BODY. hAVE YOU TRIED TAKING BENADRYL PRIOR TO SHOWERING? iT'S FINE AT NIGHT, BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU DROWSY BUT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR MORNING SHOWERS BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A SEDATIVE. UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO BE IMMUNE TO IT'S SEDATIVE EFFECT. BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT ORAL BENADRYL WILL STOP ANY ITCH. THE PROBLEM IS IT ALSO TURNS YOU INTO A ZOMBIE!!! ALSO PROLONGED USE CAN CAUSE RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME. CRAZY!!!!! BUT IT GOES AWAY AFTER YOU STOP TAKING THE BENADRYL. I'VE NEEDED IT A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I HAVE PRURIGO NODULARIS NOW ON ACCOUNT OF MY 30-YR ITCH/SCRATCH CYCLE. ANYWAY, THAT'S NOT THE SAME AS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH I WISH YOU ALL GOOD LUCK. I DON'T REALLY THINK IT'S IN THE SOAP THOUGH. EXCEPT THAT RUBBING THE SKIN WITH A TOWEL AFTER A BATH DOES SEEM TO MAKE IT WIRSE. NEVER RUB, ONLY PAT DRY. IN FACT I DON'T DRY IT ALL. I SPRITZ MY WHOLE BODY WITH SOMETHING CALLED "SKIN FREE AFTER SHOWER MOISTURE SPRITZ." I GOT IT IN THE NATURAL FOODS SECTION AT MY GROCERY STORE. I'M ALSO TRYING THE BAR SOAP AND SO FAR SO GOOD. BUT AS FOR MY SON, I HOPE THIS PRICKLY ITCH EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY. I CAN ONLY HOPE. MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION WHN IT COMES TO SKIN PROBLEMS. SEE A DERMATOLOGIST AND AN ALLERGIST. COMPARE THEIR ADVICE AND DIAGNOSES, THEN IF YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE, GET A SECOND OPINION. AFTER THAT, DO RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. SOMETIMES IT'S UP TO US. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Wow! Nice to find others who experience this. The first time I itched was after a shower and it was my upper thighs. I was able to relieve it with Solarcaine spray, ( I had already tried several lotions and aloe but they did not help) Then about 2 weeks later, the same thing except just one thigh. And I mean the itching was absolutely crazy. Like nothing I've ever felt. Like a stinging. But this time the Solarcaine alone was not relieving it so I used Benedryll as well. The Benedryll saved me and the Solarcaine worked after I took the benedryll and I would have an itch, I would spray it and then cover that area with a tissue, (don't ask, but it worked)I'm not sure what this has to do with, I would hate to find out that it is anxiety b/c I've had enough mental health **** to deal with as is!
I too suffer from itching but not in or after the shower.
It feels like something microscopic crawling on my body. I just take a Claratin or the generic and it goes away. I don't know if it is an allergy or by taking a pill my mind thinks I will be ok.
Sometimes I have to take one several days in a row. It seems like when the 24 hours are up the itching starts again.
It feels like something microscopic crawling on my body. I just take a Claratin or the generic and it goes away. I don't know if it is an allergy or by taking a pill my mind thinks I will be ok.
Sometimes I have to take one several days in a row. It seems like when the 24 hours are up the itching starts again.
Hi Teresa. Itching in the shower could be from the water being too hot, too. It could also be anxiety, but - not likely (not unless you have an anxiety disorder with other symptoms.) An antidepressant for itching in the shower is... well - I can't blame you for not wanting to get on AntiD's for this. If that is the only complaint you have, beginning Antd's to treat this would be... well - ludicrous, to put it bluntly. I've heard some runners complain of itching like this (when their bodies warm up quickly - I guess it's due to the muscles being exerted, a "response" in the body occurs, and it can cause itching in the larger muscle groups - thighs, upper arms, butt, etc.) You might want to try to reduce the heat of the water in the shower, and try to reduce the time you are staying in the shower. Best of luck.
Hi Teresainpain
I dont think this is linked to anxiety as my wife and at least 4 members of her imediate family have the same problem. after they that a shower they hop around the place with uncontrolable itching.
I dont know what kind of shower you have but we were able to help my wife by accecent. we had an electric shower and we changed it to a power shower she has not itched scince. if you have ever stayed in a hotel and have taken a shower there (usuallly they have high pressure) do you still itch.
I dont think this is linked to anxiety as my wife and at least 4 members of her imediate family have the same problem. after they that a shower they hop around the place with uncontrolable itching.
I dont know what kind of shower you have but we were able to help my wife by accecent. we had an electric shower and we changed it to a power shower she has not itched scince. if you have ever stayed in a hotel and have taken a shower there (usuallly they have high pressure) do you still itch.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?
