What Does It Mean When You’re Itchy After A Shower?

Showering is just one of those things most of us do every day. Whether we choose to shower to wash and wake ourselves in the morning or to relax and unwind before bed, showering can make you feel rejuvenated and even reduce inflammation, according to Medical Daily. Unfortunately, it can also lead to itching.

While Medical News Today explains that you don’t have to shower each day, about two-thirds of Americans do, according to Harvard Medical School. And sometimes people end up with itchy skin after the shower. The itching is usually harmless, but there are various causes for this phenomenon, according to Healthline.

Sometimes itchy skin after a shower can be caused by something as simple as dry skin, a phenomenon also called xerosis cutis. A long, hot shower can remove natural oils from the skin, and skin that is too dry to start with might experience an itchy sensation soon after showering or bathing.

Other causes and simple treatments for post-shower itchy skin

If you feel itchy after showering, you might have a sensitivity to the soap you’re using, explains Healthline. If you use a soap that has harsh ingredients, you might find yourself itchy without even seeing a rash. Also make sure to rinse the soap off thoroughly or you may pay for it with an itchy feeling later.

There is also a rare condition called aquagenic pruritis that essentially means your skin has a sensitivity to water, something we often think of as harmless. This condition might also come into play if you wash your hands or even go swimming in a pool.

Thankfully, there are ways to take care of these issues. Healthline advises that rather than rub yourself dry with a towel after your shower, you should lightly pat. You might also want to take cooler showers and not use so much steaming hot water. Finally, moisturize your skin while it’s still wet. Diluted essential oils can also be added to your shower routine. Finally, if all else fails, you can use an anti-itch cream that includes lactic acid or pramoxine hydrochloride. The one thing you shouldn’t do, though, is use a corticosteroid over-the-counter medication for after-shower itching.

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