After taking a shower, many people itch the body, sometimes even bubbles and blisters appear. Itching caused by water is not such a rare occurrence.
As a rule, after a shower, the body itches in those people who have increased skin sensitivity to water elements or substances that are part of detergents. Why this happens is not yet clear. But there is an assumption that with adverse factors in the skin, special antibodies begin to develop that cause itching. The main role in their production is played by histamine.
Occasionally, itchy skin after a shower appears due to hidden diseases, endocrine pathologies and blood diseases. If so, then such phenomena may be associated with deeper mechanisms of disease. Consequently, the etiology of aquagenetic is divided into physiological and pathological.
The body itches after a shower. Reasons for this phenomenon
Physiological causes of itching:
- Hypersensitivity to the constituent elements of water: stiffness; the presence of chlorine; other inclusions.
- The presence of individual intolerance to the composition of detergent mixtures.
Pathological causes of itching:
- Blood disease.
- Endocrine pathology.
- Various pathologies of the liver.
- Oncology.
- Skin pathologies: lichen, scab.
- Worms.
Aquagenic itching
If the body is very itchy after a shower and a clear relationship with water is noticed, but other available causes of irritation are not confirmed, then it is entirely possible that you have idiopathic aquagenic itching. This is a disease that occurs due to mental disorders, accompanied by a depressive state.
With an idiopathic variant of the disease, urticaria does not appear, there is no rash on the skin . There is no history of chronic pathologies or drug use. Itching can be general or localized in a certain area, for example, on the upper limbs.
Aquagenic allergy
Why does a body itch after a shower? Often this phenomenon speaks of aquagenic allergy. A very rare pathology, rashes on the skin are added to the itch. The nature of the phenomenon is unclear. But there is an assumption that this is due to the production of histamine in the cholinergic reaction.
People with this disorder are very careful about water. Since the interaction with her, especially long, is fraught with unpleasant consequences.
Diagnosis and methods for eliminating allergic itching
If a person itches after a shower, it is first necessary to find out what it came from. We mentioned above that there are many reasons for this phenomenon, from the most harmless urticaria to serious systemic diseases, which, without treatment, can lead to big health problems.
One of the preventative measures for itching is proper nutrition. All fried, spicy, salty dishes and strong tea with coffee also lead to itching. It is necessary to stop eating harmful products, or at least reduce their quantity. Proper diet normalizes the work of internal organs and raises the mood. Along with this, you need to use vitamins, iodine-containing products, more fruits and vegetables.
It may also be necessary to change the hygiene products for skin care, as they can also cause irritation. The easiest way to use hypoallergenic drugs or baby soap. This will save you from allergic problems.
If all preventive measures have not helped, you should definitely contact a specialist. The doctor will prescribe the necessary studies to help establish the cause of the disease, and then prescribe the required treatment. Do not forget about this, since timely diagnosis and correctly started therapy will help a person live a long life.
Manifestations of the disease
If, after a shower, the body itches, paresthesia is observed, then be aware that aquagenic pruritus is manifested in this way. Such a reaction occurs even with a short interaction with the liquid. It may be with a rash and without. Itching appears in the first minutes after the start of a shower or some time after hygiene procedures. The duration of this phenomenon is from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the person.
True, cold and thermal urticaria are distinguished - this is when itching occurs only from a liquid of a certain temperature.
A strong stream of water and active rubbing with a towel can cause a similar phenomenon.
Aquagenic pruritus in the elderly is a type of disease that occurs after 59 years. Exacerbations are replaced by periods of rest, the disease becomes chronic. Senile xerosis appears. As a rule, exacerbations occur in winter, a sharp change in ambient temperature can provoke senile xerosis.
If the body is very itchy after a shower, then this can talk about blood pathologies.
These include the following:
1. Myeloma.
2. Mastocytosis.
3. Hodgkin's disease.
4. Lack of iron in the blood.
5. Erythremia.
Polycythemia
Polycythemia is a pathology characterized by an increased number of red blood cells in the blood. With the progression of the disease in the blood, the number of all elements increases.
Why does a body itch after taking a shower? This reaction indicates a disease called polycythemia. With this pathology in the blood of a person, white blood cells under the influence of water produce substances that cause itchy skin. A similar phenomenon with endocrine pathologies has a relationship with the cumulation of harmful substances altered by metabolism. Of course, this distorts the operation of all systems. For example, dry skin and itching can indicate the development of diabetes. Therefore, it is worth checking your blood sugar.
Other possible causes
Allergy to the skin with excessive production of thyroid hormones is associated with the formation of kinins, an increase in body temperature and xerosis.
Itching associated with liver diseases is provoked by a high content of bile acids in the blood or prostaglandins and histamine. Allergy is generalized and intensifies when you click on the skin, as well as at night. You need to be attentive to such manifestations, otherwise hemochromatosis may occur.
With skin diseases, there is no dependence of itching on water. Just such procedures can spread microorganisms throughout the body.
If you have worms, the body also itches after the shower, this is due to the processes of poisoning the body with the products of the parasites.
How to help?
If the body itches after a shower, what should I do? To treat itching, you need to know exactly the cause of its occurrence.
Itching may be a reaction to hygiene products. If so, then replace your cosmetics with hypoallergenic or children's. You can try yourself as a soap maker.
If the sensitivity of the skin manifests itself in chlorine, then it is worth using the most moisturizing means for washing. And after the shower, lubricate the skin with some kind of oil, for example, Johnson Baby.
If the material situation allows, you can install water filters.
To remove the manifestations of idiopathic aquagenic itching, antihistamines will be needed. For example, it can be tablets "Suprastin", "Loratodin", "Nixar" and others.
If itching is associated with a chronic disease, then to eliminate it, it is necessary to cure the underlying disease.
Aquagenic itching occurs several years before the appearance of a blood disease. Therefore, those who have it, it is necessary to be examined every year by a hematologist.
What to do if itching occurs? Prevention Methods
Help with itching will help:
- Using special cosmetics. This may include a nourishing cream or emollient milk, as well as soft body oil, which should be applied immediately after showering to still wet skin.
- Warm baths with a decoction of herbs. To eliminate itching, menthol, barley decoction, and juniper extract can be added to the bath.
- Rubbing the skin. Often salicylic alcohol is taken for these purposes . You can insist on it peppermint and use it to wipe.
- Lotions. If any part of the body itches, then lotions from the infusion of burdock can be applied. To prepare it, you need 400 ml of water and 1.5 tbsp. l the roots of the plant. Ingredients must be cooked for 30 minutes.
- Healthy drinks. For example, you can use ordinary dill. Grind it as finely as possible, put it in a glass with boiled water. It is necessary to drink every day in such a glass for 7 days.
- Relieve nervous tension. If a person is very upset, he should definitely try to calm down and relax. In most situations, itching and tingling disappear.
Sometimes there are situations in which the person himself cannot help himself, although he knows very well how to do this. In such cases, all attempts are in vain, the help of a specialist is desirable. It is he who will be able to help establish the true cause of the disease and advise how to cope with it.
What to do with the disease
Itching on the skin after a bath is often considered a harbinger of serious problems. Standard options for dealing with the problem give only temporary relief, since the reason remains unclear. Therefore, if the body does not itch, urgent medical advice is recommended.
In each case, an individual examination of the patient is necessary. After diagnosis, appropriate treatment is prescribed. As therapeutic agents, ointments, creams, injections and other methods are used. Prescribed medications help to cope with the clinical manifestations of the disease.
It is very important to pay close attention to itching. If the treatment is prescribed correctly, then the problem will soon disappear.
Conclusion
Now it’s clear why the skin on the body itches after a shower. We hope that our article has helped you understand this issue. Be healthy!