Itchy Legs after showering or swimming

[dalbs]

I have been experiencing extremely painful itching in the legs, which starts about 10-15 minutes after getting out of the shower and will last about 15-30 minutes. It started out by happening occasionally but now it occurs after every shower and has started happening after getting out of the swimming pool. The itching is getting more intense and I'm afraid that it will continue to just get worse and last longer.  Water is the only thing so far that triggers this.  This is not a topical or dry skin itch, it's like my nerve endings are going wild inside my legs.   Nothing seems to relieve the itch, it just has to "run it's course".  I've tried different lotions, not using soap, not shaving my legs, warm water, cold water, not drying off, change the floor rugs.... nothing makes a differnce.  I found where this problem had been discussed on this forum a few years ago but no one seems to be able to find a solution. Is there anyone out there that has found a solution to this every painful, unexplained problem?

[mrjca]

Hi, like most people here I'm surprised at how many people have the same problem as me. I have had this problem for about 20 years. My problem might be a little different thou, I get a rash like symptom in the winter its almost like small soars on my arms legs and back and they get dry and peel off about the size of a penny. In the summer I don't get the soars but I get really itchy after a shower but not all the time. What helps for me is I rub Aveno lotion all over my body after a shower, Pants help and going outside right away and walking around helps alot. I now feel like I have to use Aveno lotion for the rest of my life. I hope someone can find a solution.

[tomdob1]

i have been suffering from all the same symptons everyone has mentioned above. i have found an answer, my dad gave me this cream called oilatum cream which you rub on as soon as you get out of the shower and you no longer feel itching, it really works! i think you can get free samples from the internet or you can get a small bottle for about £2.50

[jazz94]

hello everyone. i'm a 16 year old female and i've had the same itching post water contact thing that everyone else here has. My itching started 2 years ago after vacation to Puerto Rico. I had my first peeling sunburn after the trip and after i got into our family pool, i started experiencing intense itching on my shoulders, arms, stomach, chest, back, and the areas just below my bum. The itching has been continuing on and off since then. swimming, sweating, and showering can trigger my itching.

i've read most of the posts on this blog but there are a lot of things that apply to me. my family has a history of hyperactive thyroid problems, b12 deficiency, and anemia and i also have the beginnings of hypertension and high blood pressure. so for me, i've narrowed the cause of my itching down to three theories: my family history starting to affect me, my hypertension and high blood pressure, or my sunburn some how affected my skin in a worse why than i thought.

does anyone have any suggestions or theories close and/or relevant to mine? i'm young so i'm not sure how i can remedy this.

ps. i have tried all the mosturizing, oiling, and heating ideas with little success.

[Pattimike55]

I just took and hour to read what everyone wrote from 2007!! My itching (arms and back only) begins every summer after I have tanned and been in the sun and heat. I have gone thru every test made to man and have come to the conclusion that I have to just do whatever I can to survive this summer problem!! I love the sun and swimming. I will suffer with this once it begins (even if I don't go outside much for the remainder of the summer) until November or December. I find the only thing that helps me is movement and Ice packs. Once this itching begins and I scratch it is all over.  Grab the ice pack. Cool down and start moving my arms. It is a nerve ending issue and I am so tired of dealing with it!  I am soon to be 62, live in Arizona and have had this for 22yrs in the summer only!! While living  in Virginia it was bad too with the humidity. Hope we all can cope with the debilitating problem!

[IronMuscles123]

Hello,

I believe that using dirty towels to clean yourself after bathing could also cause itching.Sometimes, certain chemicals in the towels can generate itching a lot too.

[w00tmaster]

I've had(and still have) this issue since I was about 17(Male, now 26). I would get out of the shower, or pool, or ocean, and upon drying, or even while in the water still(if I was in there for a few hours), Would get so itchy, I would sometimes take a knife and scrape(but not draw blood) my skin to TRY to satisfy the itching/stinging feeling.

My parents and friends thought I was crazy, I'm glad I'm not!

I say a few dermatologists, all said to use lotion, and prescribed several different lotions that were absorbingly expensive even with health insurance, which all did NOT work.

What I found about 6 years ago(when I was 20) that worked about 85% of the time for me, was to basically Lightly pat my skin dry, without dragging the towel on my skin at ALL, not even a tiny bit.

It might be a partially sub-conscious thing, but it works for me. Not any meds, or any cremes, or any pills.

Just my 2 cents.