incredibly itchy skin after shower/shaving- pls help!

[Teresainpain]

Hi:

I know itchy skin doesn't sound like a big problem, but my legs and arms itch like they were about to fall off everytime I take a shower.  I don't have dry skin and I use Aveeno body lotion everyday to make sure I get enough moisture.  The itching is like an intense tingling only on my arms and legs (mostly on my legs) and it's so bad that sometimes I just want to run yelling into the street.  The itching usually goes away within an hour after taking a shower, but it happens all of the time.  I hope that someone can give me some advice as to how to fix this problem...itching can drive a person crazy!

Thanks everyone.

[sarah191090]

Hi There!
I am 21 years old living in Australia and have had this terrible itchiness after I shower since i was 16. I find it also occurs when i do exercise and get sweaty... To stop this i find if i put moisturiser on (Burt's Bees works well) before i do exercise, the itchiness doesn't occur--but it will be after i shower.
My mum and I have tried many things to see what works, but the triggers are hard to find as sometimes ill have no itchiness after a shower and then the next night, doing the same routine and using the same products, i'll be super itchy.
Here is one that I've found works: Set up a bath of luke warm water before you have a shower. Place QV Body Wash and Pinetarsol ( 2 lids full of each) into the bath. Put oats into stockings and tie a knot in and place them in the bath aswell (2 will suffice). Have a shower, and as soon as you are out, hop into bath. Squeeze the oat filled stockings all over you and sit in there for about 15-20 minutes. Get out and PAT dry with the towel, to leave as much of the bath water on your skin as possible.
I have found that by sitting directly in front of a cold fan or air conditioner will also help, directly after a shower!
And if anything--- try as hard as you can to refrain from itching. If the feeling overwhelms you, lightly rub your skin, dont scratch as this will make it worse and it will take a lot longer to stop!

Hope this helps some of you-- it really *****, i know!

[itchyscratchyagain]

Not sure this will help but after reading all of the posts, I followed what one of the posts said.  I was dreading taking my shower this morning and so I finally decided to go for it.  As one of the posts said, I did not use a sponge, rag, facecloth, nothing except a mild soap bar and only used it more vigorously where needed the most.  For the legs and arms I lathered the soap up in my hands and then let the shower water run through my hands as I placed them over my legs...touched my legs gently as to not disturb any of the hair follicles.  Did this and when I came out of the shower I gently patted dry wthout disturging the skin and put on baby oil only after I considered I was dry.  I was very careful in the shower not to rub the skin of my lesgs or arms, as thse are the parts that go so itchy, and the same during drying.  I have to say that the itch was almost unnoticeable for the first time in over a year so I think it really has to do with rubbing the skin under the water as with a sponge.  I thought I was going crazy with this problem as nobody I know or have spoken with even knew what I was talking about.  It has caused me so much stress that I even went to have an EKG done one time because of the stress.  Try what I have mentioned and see if it helps you.  A bath has not caused me as much itch because I would load up the water with baby oil and I think in the bath we don't rub  our skin as much; we kind of soak and perhaps that is why baths were better for me.  I hope from now on if I do what I did today I will not itch like crazy as it has been.  If it comes back I will post it.

[itchyscratchyagain]

I have the same problem.  Started when I moved from overseas to the us.  Thought I just had to adjust to the water here but my skin continues to itch after over a year.  It's a bit better if I take a bath and load the water with baby oil.  Usually overseas it would only happen in the summer and I would turn on a coil heater and put it next to my skin and the itch would be less severe.  Here in the US my skin itches all year round. The air touching my skin seems to make it worse so I immediately put on clean clothes (sweats, long sleeve t-shirt) after showering.  Going to the Dr to see if they have any suggestions!!

[Jordan122]

For some of u's its NOT WASHING but DRYING urselves thats the causes the itch.

I used to hav itchy legs and arms after showering and i couldnt do anything but scratch until it goes away.

Ive tried using no shower gel/shampoo didnt help.

The only thing that seems to work is use a soft clean towel and make sure to dry urself very gentle ( softly PAT ur body thoroughly and do not rub ).

I think i hav Aquagenic Pruritus which baiscly means im alergic to somethin in the water.
Look up this website it will tell what its about.
http://hanishbabu.suite101.com/how-to-get-rid-of-aquagenic-pruritus-a122200

If i shower in the evening or at night i get NO ITCH at all, in the morning i itch but its bearable. I dont know if this has anythin to do with it but i eat healthy, i drink alot of water and exercise often.

Also i wouldnt advise comin in from the cold and jumpin into a hot shower/ visa-versa

Hope this helps u find a solution,
Jordan

[SenGaxD]

Hi. I also have this thing, but not every time after taking a shower. But it happens a lot. So one day i had this huge itch all over my body, i couldnt stand it anymore so i went immediatly to the doctor. He told me to use some sort of baby shampoos, use cold water and to find girlfriend... Ty doctor a lot... But i read here about this Aquagenic pruritus and i believe thats exactly what my problem is... Now im gonna go and tell my doctor "Hi, this is my girlfriend u son of a.."

[val98]

Have you tried switching detergents....it may be something as simple as that...you never know. If you wash your washcloths w a detergent you are sensitive to or dry off w a towel washed in the same load, that might be what is causing the reaction.  The residue from the detergent mixed with dampness especially on open pores (freshly shaved skin) may be the culprit.  It's definately worth a try. Maybe switch razors as well. Use one especially meant for sensitive skin.   Good luck everyone