Is your skin feeling itchy after shower? Or you have got rashes with body itching just right after you came out from shower? If the answer to any of these two questions is yes, then our article will be a savior of yours. In this article, we are going to explain in detail about the causes and remedies of skin’s itchiness after a shower.
Statistics have revealed that every one out of 3500 white men may suffer from this condition. The condition is somewhat less prevalent in other ethnic groups. One may also confuse the state with another skin condition called “Pruritus” that causes the desire or reflex of scratching, leading to a medication error.
Therefore, great insight is needed for you to understand the condition correctly also to know about the remedies to get rid of this situation.
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Five reasons for Itchy Skin after Showering:
Do you often ask yourself “Why does my body itch right after taking a shower?” Several factors and disease conditions may contribute to making your skin itchy after a shower. Some are more common than others. Some of the causes are:
# Xerosis Cutis:
Xerosis Cutis is the medical term referring to the abnormal dryness of the skin. This condition is a global threat if you’re an older adult. It is usually an acute and mild condition, but it can be very discomforting. The skin has a natural moisturizing layer formed by the secretions of sweat and sebaceous glands.
This layer prevents transepidermal water loss and keeps the outer layer of skin hydrated. In xerosis cutis, this moisturizing film is lost, and you are particularly prone to this condition if you live in an area of low humidity. Itching after shower due to this disease mostly appears in legs and feet.
# Excessive use of soap:
Soaps rinse out the moisturizing layer of skin, and so excessive use of solvents may cause your skin to dry out. The dry skin itches when it comes in contact with water. The sensitivity to soaps also varies with the individual who uses it. Hands itching is widespread in such cases as they are the part of the body that come in contact with soap most frequently.
# Aquagenic Pruritus:
Does your skin itch without any visible skin changes when in contact with water of any temperature? If yes, then you may have a rare skin condition called aquagenic pruritus. It may be a symptom of a disease, a drug-induced condition or strongly associated with genetic factors (inherited). The patients often complain of itchy burning skin.
Hives after a shower may appear when hot water is used for the shower. Itching on contact with water which also includes hives is known as aquagenic urticaria or water allergy.
# Eczema:
You may have eczema if your itchiness of skin is a chronic condition and is exaggerated right after taking a shower. This appears with skin manifestations such as redness, inflammation, patchy skin, etc. This condition is comparatively common, with about 31 percent of people in America is affected by different types and severity of eczema. It is not a contagious disease.
# Reactions to skincare product:
Most of us enjoy taking a shower with scented soaps and hair products. While this fragrance may present a pleasant and refreshing experience, the scented soap can greatly initiate itchiness of skin after a shower.
This is because the cleanser removes the natural moisturizing layer of skin and the fragrance used in the soap may be irritant to our skin. This condition is confirmed when the use of moisturizing creams does not diminish the appearance of itchiness after a shower.
How to treat itchy skin after showering?
People have reported that the following treatment and remedies have been useful to relieve the itchiness of skin after a shower:
- You should not scratch your surface when it itches. Scratching will injure the skin and make the skin irritant, worsening the overall condition.
- Changing your shower routine may help. Taking short showers will shorten the contact of water skin and thus diminish itching after a shower.
- Try applying moisturizer cream while the skin is still wet after a shower, as it helps your skin to retain moisture. This prevents the skin from drying out.
- Some people have reported benefits from changing their soaps and finding out which solvent is suitable for their skin. Often fragrance-free soaps with mild surfactant activity have been said to be safe for people with sensitive skin.
- The use of cooling agents as cream or lotions such as menthol and calamine has been suggested by The American Academy of Dermatologists.
- Over-the-counter antihistamine and corticosteroid have proven to b e beneficial is the management of long-standing itching.
- You may also benefit from using anti-itching cream. This cream contains lactic acid, a humectant that facilitates water uptake by the skin, thus making the skin hydrated and moisturized. This prevents the skin from drying after a shower and reduces skin itching,
When should you consult a doctor?
You can manage mild itching after shower by following the steps as mentioned above, which mainly promotes the hydration of the skin.
However, you cannot manage severe itching after a shower when there is uncontrollable itching all over the body, by trying home remedies and a skin specialist should be consulted in such conditions.
The severe skin itching is sometimes associated with health conditions such as nerve damage and multiple sclerosis that causes the over-activity of the nerves present in the skin. In these cases, the skin usually itches without any visible skin symptoms.
Obstructive liver disease may also be associated with itching after taking a bath. In this case, bile acids are accumulated within the skin layers, and the skin becomes itchy with visible redness. This condition is usually persistent but may be aggravated by taking a shower with hot water.
In such cases, the management of liver disease improves the conditions. For severe itching doctors often prescribe an antihistamine, as it has demonstrated to reduce itching. This condition is usually persistent but may be aggravated by taking a shower with hot water.
Itching of the may be presented as a symptom of some other severe disease, such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma and so it should not be ignored.
Some mental health conditions may also contribute to the development of itchiness of the skin after taking a shower, such as:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Excoriation (skin picking disorder)
Expert answer Qus that ask the reader
Why do I itch after taking a shower?
Ans. Your skin might itch due to the dryness of the skin. The water and soap from the shower can wash away your skin’s natural oils, causing dehydration and itching.
Itching of skin may be a symptom of more severe disease conditions, such as nerve damage and multiple sclerosis, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and should be taken seriously if it is chronic and acute.
How do I stop itching after a shower?
Ans. To reduce the itching of your skin after the shower, you should try taking a short bath and avoiding hot water. You should also use a shampoo that is suitable for your skin. The use of moisturizing cream or lotion right after bathing while the skin is still wet has been proven to be effective in moisturizing the skin.
Can hot water cause itchy after shower?
Ans. Yes, hot water is liable to a great extent to cause itchiness in the skin. Hot water is able to dry up your skin, and this dried up skin results in itchiness.
Conclusion:
Indeed the feeling of skin’s itchiness after bathing is a very unpleasant experience. It may be caused by conditions solely associated with skin or can be an indication of more severe diseases.
We hope that this article has helped you to know more about the itchiness of skin after a shower its causes. Hopefully, this will help you to manage the condition. So whenever you have the sensation of itchy after shower you can take the situation under control with our given guide.
