Severe itching after showering

Things that usually help me:

*I read in a previous post that applying lotion BEFORE you shower is helpful. I apply it 5-10 minutes before I usually shower. AND THANK GOD BECAUSE IT DOES HELP. (I use an unscented hypo allergic lotion, any particular brand is probably fine).
*It helps if you shower during the night time.
*I found if you're in a hot shower and get out and the room temperature is cold, it goes away faster or doesn't happen at all.
*Also, when it itches, don't scratch/rub/pat the scratchies!! I know it is awful and hard to resist but it makes the duration longer and more painful!! I try to let my legs (the area where it itches) air dry.
*Keep your hands and mind busy. I will walk around my house and pace when it's so bad just to keep me from scratching.
*The pain of slapping the area does temporarily relieve the pain (but only for a few seconds, not nearly worth it!)

I'm not sure if this helps everyone. I have a reaction to the heat (not the cold like some have suggested) and it is especially painful during the late summer/early fall months (I live in Maryland).

I have never tried turning the water on to scolding hot, I feel as if this would make it worse.

Good luck and let me know if any of this information helps!

MelissaMN , Jany et al, Shane is right; try very hot water. Get more details here:
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Does anyone (girls mainly) experience the itching even MORE severely after they shave their legs?

hello everyone I am so glad I have found this site, I too suffer from this condition and cry from the pain it causes me. I can only describe it as torture.

For me Eurax cream was the solution. After I used it for a week right after shower, the itchiness disappeared!!! I got it in Ebay and cost me less than $20

I have to disagree... here is what a specialist told me

My allergist told me that this is not an allergy like I thought... no wonder it didn't respond to antihistimines... It's called Brachioradial Pruritus.

Here is a good link that explains it:

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It isn't a cure, but it does make me feel better to be pointed in the right direction, finally.

I have had problems with deteriorated discs in neck so this would hit home for me. There are other causes too. Let me know if this site helped you at all.

Wow! First off let me say it is absolutely relieving to find out I'm really not insane! I'm 19 and when it started I really thought I was going crazy, or that it was a psychological because there were no lesions, marks, or rashes on my skin. Just recently though I began to think that something was actually wrong. Its been so hard since I started telling people because of course they just don't understand and every time it happened and my mother was visiting or I'm visiting her she freaks the hell out and only increases my aggravation. Just like the original poster I have come to notice it only occurs when my body is drying right after its been wet, and while sweating can get bad, nothing is as terrifying as when I shower(also happens when I go swimming). I also just recently noticed that while there is no rash I get goosebumps all over my body, and I do not itch on the places of the body that you can't get goosebumps in(face, hands, feet, genitalia). The itching is most intense on my upper back, upper arms and thighs(in that order from least to worst) and persists for at least 30 minutes when I finish and dry off after my shower. Also while it is already unbearable to begin with I noticed that it gets worse as I begin to scratch. Its extremely exhausting and by the time I finish my skin feels raw and just scraped up and I have to apply loads of lotion on my practically abused skin; not to mention the extreme feeling of panic that fills me as I itch myself into exhaustion. Its horrific, I find myself scared to take showers because of the itching which I noticed is only getting worse(it used to barely itch, or be less intense sometimes but now is terrifyingly itchy every time). I have tried applying lotion after showering and that doesn't work(only makes itching harder), and have now decided to minimize showering and water contact as much as possible. I really need help on this one, I'm currently visiting home for the holidays but plan to see a dermatologist as soon as I get back to school. It's really traumatic that we have to go through this and don't have any idea what to do. I really hope someone can find a solution to this soon because whats happening is just cruel, its like I'm being tortured by your body

God is good I found out there are others out there, I am 26 and I have had this problem for two years, doctors seem not to understand what is wrong, some claimed its the water treatment, some said I give it some time and it will go eventually I was told to take piritons before i shower it helps but the after effect is dosing.

I do not feel the crazy itch when I swim, as earlier said after exercising its a bit mild as well as after quick showers.
I thought it would go after some time but its sad to hear I might have it like 4eva. I just hope its a diet allergy like said in an earlier post then i can avoid wheat for good. No body in my family has the same problem.

I will tell you how avoiding wheat will do for me.

I had very itchy legs for a while and it was miserable.  Eventually, through experimentation the cause and a solution was found.  The cause was chemical irritation from soaps and shampoo.  The solution was to prevent them from contacting the skin on my lower legs by wrapping plastic around them while showering and allowing NO chemicals to touch them. First rinse the affected area with hot water to thoroughly remove chemical contaminants before you start this experiment.  Preventing the chemical contact eliminated the problem once and for all.  I hope that it works as well for you.

Showering used to cause me horrific skin problems.  It turned out to be chlorine which off gasses when water is hot.  The chlorine gas given off during a shower can be very toxic and some people are more sensitive to it than others.  A shower filter that filters out chlorine helped considerably.  We are bombarded with chemicals and at some point out bodies can't take any more.  There are many reasons that symptoms come and go:  sometimes our body's momentarily excrete the toxins; some soaps, shampoos, and lotions are worse than others; some cities have much more chlorine in them than other cities.

My allergist put me on Fexfenadine (Allegra 60ml) twice a day.  I only take it once a day though unless I have a severe sneezing fit or something and just that one pill a day, keeps me from itching after my shower.   Lotions won't help because unless you are suffering from dry skin, the problem is internal.

I take allergy medicine daily but that does not help my itching. I itch after getting a shower but oddly enough I don't itch after getting out of the pool. I have tried EVERYTHING and nothing works. We have well water so we decided to get a water conditioner to see if that helped-it didn't. I use Dove or Oil of Olay soap, Eucerin lotion, tried no lotion at all, have tried putting baby oil on my legs and arms (those are the areas that itch) before drying off, tried rinsing off with cold water to close my pores back up, tried hot water, you name it, I've tried it and nothing works. I went to the doctor 2 years ago for it because the itching was so severe that I caused myself pain from scratching--he had no clue what my problem was so he did all kinds of blood work which came out normal. It's to the point where I dread showering but I MUST shower daily--I can't even fathom going a day without! I am at my wits end! I am hoping someone will post something on here that I haven't tried yet because something HAS to help!

Im a 21 year old girl and I live in London, the water here is really hard. Ive had the condition ever since I was 5 or 6 and I found a way of dealing with it. My skin is dry and everytime I scrub my skin I have this burning itchy sensation which last around 15mins. I no longer use any sponges, hand gloves or shower mitts. Instead I use my hands in a slow circular motion and I dab the lotion on gentle. This usually does the trick for me. I also usually go to a steam room this opens the pores of my skin which allows any hidden dirt to be washed away and my skin becomes more hydrated.

So if your looking for a natural remedy try
1 - washing without using a sponge, shower mitt ect
2 - steam room

I wish u guys the best x

I am so glad I found this site. I have suffered from this for about 15 years. My fiance' was thinking I needed mental help as it had to be in my head as he had never heard of it. I too get it when ever I shower, swim, or sweat. It happens over my entire body except for my head, feet, and hands. I take a Benadryl before taking a shower and it helps but doesn't stop it. I found that taking my shower before bed helps because I can take 2 benadryl wait 15 minutes, take a shower and then go to bed. I also have to use a lot of lotion. I thought it was from the dry southwest air, but I have since moved to where it is humid and it is back. I did have one DR. give me pills that helped but they did knock you out, so you had to take make sure you take your shower before bed. Some of the suggestions I will try also. Anything to keep from going crazy from the itching.