itchy skin in after washing

[palypso]

Whenever I take a shower or a bath in the morning I get terribly itchy skin for about half an hour after,it's quite painful. It only happens in the mornings and I dont use any different products or change anything else. It has happened all my life and I don't know anyone except my Dad who also sufferes from it. It happens when I wash in different houses aswell, not just mine. Does anyone have any info?

[Patrick]

palypso wrote:

Whenever I take a shower or a bath in the morning I get terribly itchy skin for about half an hour after,it's quite painful. It only happens in the mornings and I dont use any different products or change anything else. It has happened all my life and I don't know anyone except my Dad who also sufferes from it. It happens when I wash in different houses aswell, not just mine. Does anyone have any info?

I have the same problembut also at night I get itchy when I go to bed.not sure what it is but have you heard anything else abot it.

[Doug]

I have had the same problem for many years. The itching is only on my arms, legs and torso. Never on my feet, hands, face or even under-arms or groin areas. The only way I have been able to tolerate the problem is to wash small parts at a time; one leg say. The itching lasts about 20 minutes and has normally gone after about 30 minutes. I too am desperate for an answer please!!! I have found some other suggestions here: http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/47459 after a search for "itchy skin in after washing"

[Melissa in MN]

palypso wrote:

Whenever I take a shower or a bath in the morning I get terribly itchy skin for about half an hour after,it's quite painful. It only happens in the mornings and I dont use any different products or change anything else. It has happened all my life and I don't know anyone except my Dad who also sufferes from it. It happens when I wash in different houses aswell, not just mine. Does anyone have any info?

Hello, I have suffered with this for years and have found exactly WHAT it is. It's called Aquagenic Pruritis. Here is the link:
http://home.tiscali.nl/aquagenic_pruritis/

I have searched and searched. I could NOT take a shower without taking a Xanax (thanks mom) about an hour before going into the water! See your doctor/dermatologist. I have been taking asperin and iron supplements, but everyone is different. There is also a Yahoo! group for this disorder, which is usually hereditary. Hope this helps!!

[Demmie]

I have suffered from this condition for about 20 years. The itch is maddening once sending me to the emergency room after an hour of itching. I was given a shot of benadryl. I, too, have gotten relief from xanax but, recently have started taking a benedryl before showers or baths and immediately after I feel the first urge to scratch. There has got to be something out there to help us.

[Demmie]

Melissa in MN wrote:

<quoted text>
Hello, I have suffered with this for years and have found exactly WHAT it is. It's called Aquagenic Pruritis. Here is the link:
http://home.tiscali.nl/aquagenic_pruritis/
I have searched and searched. I could NOT take a shower without taking a Xanax (thanks mom) about an hour before going into the water! See your doctor/dermatologist. I have been taking asperin and iron supplements, but everyone is different. There is also a Yahoo! group for this disorder, which is usually hereditary. Hope this helps!!

I have also tried xanax. However, my Doc did not believe that xanax helped and looked at me like I was a substance abuser...not cool. Lately I have been taking a benedryl; both of which cause drowsiness.

[Nick]

I have the same problem, I itch after a shower or when my skin is sexposed to the elements. I recently had surgery and was given blood, the itching stopped, only for about six weeks or so. I assume it has something to do with circulation and blood. Medico's have been useless

[Marty Dublin Ireland]

I have had the after shower itch all over my body for the last 6 years. I was diagnosed with polycythemia vera ruba 5 years ago. This is a blood disorder of which one of the symptoms is aquagenic pruritis. A simple FBC blood test will help in diagnosing this condition. Over the years I have tried all sorts of treatments without success.(anti histamines,Seroxat, hypnosis) Last oct I saw a dermatologist who put me on a course of phototherapy, 3 times a week for a few minutes. I have had 32 sessions so far and I am thrilled to say that I can now have a shower every day without iny itch. It is really terrific.

[John]

I suffered from this for over 30 years - from age 15 to 50. A few years ago I accidently discovered an extremely effective cure from a clue I got in a medical text-book on dermatology. I had also noticed that the itching would not be present following prolonged and severe exercise - playing a football game or running a road-race. There are two parts to the cure, which has certainly worked for me:
(i) massage and pinch the skin in the affected areas for about 5 minutes before showering - this is amazingly effective
(ii) after showering use a warm bath-robe immediatly
and put clothes on a warm bathroom radiator before dressing - this is also highly effective

[Bryan in Georgia]

I have the same itching problem, only with my hands and feet, nothing else! it is so bad, and only lasts 10 to 20 minutes....

[e-mail]

[phil c]

i suffer the effects minorly
but the effects of emotional stimulations are much worse, people tend to believe that i am a drug addict because i am scratching its really bad

[Ellie]

My husband has suffered this itchy skin since he was 12 years old. He is now 41 and it drives him (and his family ) crazy. He cannot swim in pools, but sea water seems to be OK. During summer he is plagued by itchiness, especially at night. If he has a shower just before bed, then he will invariably be up half of the night. The most effective relief for him is to go for a run and sweat heaps. He went to the doctor about it once, but because there wasn't any rash, he didn't have a clue. It is great to hear that there is a name for the condition and that other people know how horrible it is

[joanne]

Try giving up dairy products. This has worked 99% for me. I suspect eggs as well. I hope this works for you.

[Susan]

Shall we start a support group for those of us who are up at all hours of the morning with itchy legs? Both my sisters and my dad has the same symptoms and I have been to every kind of doctor to try and figure out what it is and how to treat it. Has anyone got any specific cure (apart from wearing warm clothes directly after a bath, which works, until the clothes cool down!)? It is driving me mad. I have had this itch ever since I can remember and it stops me from working out in the mornings, as I can't have a shower before work, or I'll end up itching the entire day...

Please help?

[ghassan]

try not to take a shower in the evning or when you are tierd , aviod wearing tight socks , i usually get itching in my legs after removing my socks and before taking the shower and it gets worse after

[winfred]

Whenever I take a shower or a bath in the morning I get terribly itchy skin for about half an hour after,it's quite painful. It only happens in the mornings and I dont use any different products or change anything else. It has happened all my life and I don't know anyone except my Dad who also sufferes from it. It happens when I wash in different houses aswell, not just mine. Does anyone have any info?

[Ade]

mine is actually different. if i shower with just soap and water without scrubbing my body dont itch. but if i have a bath and i scrub my skin with sponge then the itchimg start. I DONT KNOW WHY? and it only happen whenever i bath with sponge morining, night whenever. it happens on my arms, back, lap and somtimes stomach NEVER on my legs, face or hands. but after the itches that takes about 10 - 20 mins there is no scar or whatever, my skin feels fine again. it's really bugging me especially as i bath with sponge every morning but shower at night. The itch is not extreme, it is just like when you have a slight rash or something, it started when i moved to england when i was 12 yrs old, i am 15 yrs old now. i used to live in Nigeria and never have my skin itch like that (except when i have an allergic rash)

[Ade]

i have discovered that after bathing quickly pour cold water on your body for about 2 mins - this can help reduce the itches.

[Kirsten]

I've had a similar sort of problem. It is very rare that I will ever have a shower without my skin getting extremely itchy and coming up in hives. Also when I run in the cold I come up in hives on my thighs. I have tried washing with 'soap free' products and even just bathing without soap but I still get the same problem. Its really frustrating.

[David]

SOMEONE FIND OUT WHY THIS HAPPENS PLEASE :( I just want to be able to take a shower or jump in the pool with out itching so bad!!!!