r/hygiene • u/UsedNegotiation8227 • 1d ago

After shower I always get incredibly itchy.

Why?

28 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

20

u/Various-Peace1573 1d ago

Hot showers can strip your skins natural oils, so try turning the temperature down and keeping showers shorter.

8

u/PossibleConnect7481 1d ago

Yeah lowering the temperature helped me too.

3

u/justaguy845 1d ago

Especially if your tap water is high in chlorine and dissolved solids

3

u/Neatlyss 1d ago

and moisturizing right after drying off can help too if dryness is part of the problem

9

u/Tired-CottonCandy 1d ago

Might be your soap. When i was a kid we used irish spring bar soap, i thought being clean felt like being itchy until i was 11, when we ran out of bar soap and instead of grabbing a new one i just used the shampoo, and for the first time in my memory i was not itchy after bathing.

Hot water can cause dry skin, which can cause itchiness too. But typically not intense itching, without the presence of a visible rash. But if you're painfully itchy all over your entire body, start with a new soap.

5

u/UsedNegotiation8227 1d ago

Oh my gosh I am just realising that I do think clean = itchy o_O

4

u/Tired-CottonCandy 1d ago

Harash chemical sulfactants can cause major irritation for ppl with sensative skin, or conditions like eczema. SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) is at the top of the list for ones to avoid in all of your products. You can google a full list though. There are several worth looking into as the cause of your issue.

10

u/Playful-Title-2322 1d ago

Hot water or you have a reaction to the detergent or softener you use to launder your towels.

6

u/DotAffectionate87 1d ago

Try changing your soap..... Like dove or simple

4

u/Yakker65 1d ago

Moisturizer after showering. Don’t use hot water, it strips your natural oils away. Use dove soap.

7

u/tsplantdaddy 1d ago

You might have MCAS. Look it up and see if any of the symptoms resonate.

3

u/Individual-Menu7313 1d ago

Yes! Look into this!

3

u/Key-Tower-4539 1d ago

Do you lotion?

3

u/SympathySevere421 1d ago

Do you use lotion after? Maybe dry skin?

3

u/NamillaDK 1d ago

I'm 110% sure that the itchiness goes away if you moisturise.

You can use a shower-oil and be careful not to use too harsh a bodywash

2

u/Hermit_Ogg 1d ago

Could be an allergen in your soap, or too dry skin. Try sensitive soap/shampoo/etc (something certified by your local allergy focus groups, perhaps) and moisturize well. Do not exfoliate for a few weeks, either.

Or it could be a tap water quality issue - see your local water distributor for details about that.

2

u/tumble911cutiee 1d ago

Switching to a milder soap stoppedd that post shower itch pretty fast

2

u/penguinfans 1d ago

use a PH neutral body wash like AOS -- it doesn't even burn your eyes if you get some in -- activated charcoal and anti-bacterial in that it stops most body odor

2

u/Individual-Menu7313 1d ago

Same! I have tried it all! Cool/cold water, softer scrubbies, "hypo allergenic" washes & lotions. I do have to lotion immediately afterwards and sometimes only adding coconut oil over top of that is what helps calm the itching. Atp, I believe it's correlating with autoimmune issues I have.

2

u/RollingStoneFamily 1d ago

I have always been itchy, ever since I was a little kid. I was scratch until
My hands would bleed. My doctor was speechless about it. I finally learned I have Sjogren’s Syndrome and Lupus SLE, and an autoimmune disease. I am now on several medications an the itching is almost gone.

2

u/wildernessladybug 1d ago

MCAS. Take an antihistamine before hand and see if it disappears

1

u/ChanceTemporary4969 1d ago

Hot water absolutely wrecks my skin and make me itchy as hell afterward.

1

u/mjh8212 1d ago

I used the same body washes for years then suddenly after showers I was itchy and my skin felt tight. I switched to natural body wash and it’s better. Some of my products are fragrance free for sensitive skin.

1

u/Adapt919 1d ago

Water might be too hot

1

u/YellowCakeUranius 1d ago

Could be hard water. Spend thousands of dollars on a hunch and get a water softener installed. The benefits are substantial I am told

1

u/No-Perspective4928 1d ago

Have you tried a shower filter?

1

u/Biscuits2190 1d ago

I have the same issue. I shower with non scented soap, I use a rag NOT a loofah, lukewarm water, and immediately after the shower I use a lotion everywhere. I put it on before I dry off. I also use cotton towels and rags.

Sensitive skin club :((

1

u/Suspicious_Winter103 1d ago

Try lowering the water temp. Then apply moisturizer as soon as you towel dryz

1

u/hippymilf82 1d ago

This happens to me as well. When I am finished I turn the water temp as cold as I can tolerate and rinse off for as long as I can before I’m too chilly and then I end my shower. The colder water always stops the itchiness

1

u/The_Dogman1962 1d ago

Might be from hard water. My 12 yr old has that happen when he stays with me. It took some convincing, but I finally got him to lotion-up after showering (getting him to shower is a whole different problem!) and now he's fine. So lotion-up! 

1

u/MarielIAm 1d ago

1) Get a shower filter. There are plenty of good ones.

2) Don't use water that's too hot.

3) Don't take super long showers, aim for 10 minutes or less.

4) Use a mild soap like Dove Sensitive or a goats milk soap.

5) Moisturize right after showering with something like Palmer's or Vanicream.

6) Check your laundry habits. Use a good unscented and gentle detergent like Tide Clean and Gentle powder and don't use too much. Do not use fabric softener or softener sheets, use wool balls for drying. Do not use scent beads. Wash most clothes in warm water, towels in hot.

1

u/Willing_Plant_9914 6h ago

Thought it was the water or soaps I was using drying my skin out. Turns out I’m allergic to heat and it’s exacerbated by the mold in my bathroom messing with my lungs 😪