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.

[Tk21]

Wooooooooow. I would have never thought that there would be sooo much people out there with the same problem i face, though i havnt read them all my itchy skin problem seems a bit worse. though im almost just 16 im suffering with the problem for about 3 years now. i grew up in Jamaica (in fact i only just moved here to new york couple months ago) my itchy skin actually startedin the summer so i doubt it has anything to do with hot or cold for me. ive tried swithcin soaps, hot water, cold water even using bleach when i shower (that was themost effective though my skin did still itch but not as severe). I hesitate every time i plan on taking a shower and when i do my WHOLE BODY ITCHES. my legs, arms, torso, even my rear end occasionlly my face and even sometimes between my toes. whenever this happens i just want to SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and burn my skin off!!!!!!! [i was real close to doin it too] But when i go to the pool or beach swimming or anything it doesnt itch just when i shower.

[suemack]

I have the same problem.  It's everything I can do not to just peel my skin off when it really gets going.  It's more like fire than it is itch.  I've recently started trying to go gluten-free to see if that helps.  My itching died down in about a day, but it may have just been coincidence so I'm going to test it for a while before I declare it a fix.  Also, for everyone who has itching with no rash, everything I've been able to find has said to go to a doctor for a blood test because it is often a sign of a systemic disease.  I guess I'm heading to the doctor finally.

[apple01]

It's the same for me - too long to remember when it even started but at least 10 years. It is unbearable at times but sadly I feel like it is something I will have to learn to live with and manage for the rest of my life. No part of my legs are spared from itching - from ankle to upper thigh. It seems to be getting worse. My legs are a complete disaster. I chase the scabs and scars with oils, creams and polysporin. I went to a naturopath who told me I had food allergies but I didn't quite believe that. It just didn't make sense to me. Other doctors and a dermatologist told me it is folliculitis and all of them just shook their head with a look that there isn't much you can do. I've been prescribed creams that have been little help. As Heather mentioned, I can feel the pain of the the hair trying to break through every follicle and the only relief is when the skin breaks. It's such a vicious cycle.  The only thing I tried recently was to stop shaving entirely for over a month and it seemed to alleviate the itching 'fits' although it was still itchy. It gave my legs a bit of a chance to heal. A dermatologist DID recently tell me that laser hair removal should help (makes sense - no hair to break through the skin). Unfortunately it is so expensive but it is encouraging that may be a solution. I may even go into my retirement savings to fund it and do a bit each year. I don't know. Some days I give up and others I want to keep trying to find a solution. Even though I don't think it's a food allergy, maybe there are foods that aggravate it?  I am interested in everyone's experience and can't believe how many people are suffering from this.

[suemack]

I posted my original remark about trying to see if gluten is an issue for me about a month ago.  I know I don't have Celiac disease because I don't have any of the symptoms, but I have to tell you that since I've essentially stopped gluten, my itching has become almost unnoticeable.  It's still there most days, but I can ignore it it's so mild.  I'm sure there are a lot of reasons why people's legs itch, but I'm pretty convinced at this point that that was my problem.  It's possible that it's just a natural part of the cycle (coming and going), so I'll still experiment and see what happens, but I'm getting closer to a 'diagnosis.'

[Armygirl68R]

OMG!  I don’t feel crazy anymore. Well like the majority, I started with this issue when i was 10 and it is just getting worst. I went from a mild itch on my upper thighs to a horrible itch everywhere. It is so painful! I am actually at the point to where i cry after my showers. I used to shower with only cold water and immediately i had to evacuate the bathroom. Now, cold water makes me itch worst and what I am now doing is taking hot showers and right before I get out, I rinse one last time with freezing cold water, then i apply my lotion. I have to fall asleep right after...or else i will suffer for approximately 1hr (sometimes up to 2hrs) with itchiness. My family, friends, as well as my fiancé would tell me that it couldn't possibly be as bad as I said it was...and for a long period of time I believed it was in my head also. Now, I know that I am not the only one. My three little brothers also have that itchy feeling after they shower but it is not as bad as mine, yet.
The only difference with mine is that I also itch every time I expose my legs to the air. I cannot wear shorts when I go to sleep or when i go out because I will also itch. It is not the shaving creams or even shaving. I have eliminated unnecessary shaving. I only shave my legs once a month and it itches just like any other day. I use hypoallergenic liquid soap and shampoos, as well as laundry detergent. I don’t know what else to do. My condition has gotten a lot worst and i am due to deploy soon!
I don’t know which one is worst deploying or this itch. If any one has anymore suggestions please share!!!!
I am trying all of the things I read above and I am also going to look up all of the conditions mentioned.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY REMEDIES THAT HAVE WORKED FOR YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!!!!!!

[Armygirl68R]

I just looked up Aquagenic pruritus and it sounds a lot like what I am experiencing. I will set up an appointment with a dermatologist.
But please let me know of any temp. relief remedies for right now.

here is link explaining what this condition is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquagenic_pruritus

Thank you