Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWinter ItchPolycythemia VeraHodgkin LymphomaCholinergic UrticariaAquagenic UrticariaIdiopathic Aquagenic PruritusWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Winter Itch
Polycythemia Vera
Hodgkin Lymphoma
Cholinergic Urticaria
Aquagenic Urticaria
Idiopathic Aquagenic Pruritus
When to See a Provider
Feeling itchy after a shower is usually due todry skin. The soap and hot water of the shower wash away the natural oils that protect, moisturize, and soften your skin. As a result, your skin is left feeling itchy and tight, especially during the winter when humidity is low.
Post-shower itching commonly goes away after a few minutes. Applying moisturizing lotion can help to prevent and soothe itchy skin after a shower. However, post-shower itchiness is a sign of a medical condition in some cases.
This article discusses common and uncommon causes of itching after a shower. It also explains how to resolve the itch and when to see a healthcare provider.
Why Is My Skin Itchy?
Xerosis, also called “winter itch,” occurs when environmental conditions cause your skin to produce less of an oily, waxy substance called sebum. The skin’s sebaceous glands produce sebum to form a protective barrier that helps keep the skin moisturized.
If you have xerosis, your skin will be:
Xerosis can also cause painful skin cracks on the hands andfeet.
This skin condition is common in cold, dry climates. It can affect people of any age, but older adults are more likely to have it.
Causes of xerosis include the following:
Long, hot showers or baths make the problem worse.
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Xerosis typically only happens in the winter, but for some people, it can be a year-round problem. The chronic form of the condition is calledasteatoticeczema.
Treatment
Winter itch usually does not need treatment other than skin self-care tips you can do at home.
You can also try over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, such as acorticosteroid cream, calamine lotion, or creams with menthol to help ease your symptoms.
Polycythemia vera(PV) is a chronic bone marrow disease. It causes the body to make too many red blood cells. People with PV have thicker blood and are at high risk forblood clots.
People with PV may have itchy skin, especially after a hot bath or shower. One reason why this may happen is that the body releases more immune cells that make histamine. This substance is linked to allergic reactions.
People with PV also have other symptoms, such as:
The diagnosis of PV begins with a simple blood test called ahematocritlevel. This test measures the proportion of red blood cells in a volume of blood. If this is abnormal, additional studies are ordered.
Symptoms of Polycythemia Vera
PV has no cure, but its symptoms can usually be managed.
The main goal of treatment is to lower the risk of blood clots. This may includehaving blood drawnoccasionally and taking low-doseaspirin.
Some prescription medications can also help lower the number of red blood cells, including:
Avoiding triggers like long, hot showers or high-temperature environments can usually relieve mild itchiness in people with PV.
More severe itching or itching that does not get better with home remedies may need to be treated with medication. One choice is an antihistamine, such as cetirizine, which can be obtained without a prescription (over-the-counter).
What to Eat When You Have Polycythemia Vera
Hodgkin lymphomais a cancer of the lymph nodes. It causes the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, groin, or chest to grow.
Itching can beone of the main symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma. The immune system makes cells called cytokines to fight cancer. When these cells get into the nerves in the skin, it can cause itching.
Certain activities, like drinking alcohol and showering, can trigger itching episodes. Some medications used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma can have itching as a side effect.
Other symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma include:
Enlarged lymph nodes are a key sign of Hodgkin lymphoma, and they can be seen with X-rays and/or CT scans. Diagnosing Hodgkin lymphoma involves taking a tissue sample from the node and testing it.
Hodgkin lymphoma is typically treated with a combination ofchemotherapy, radiation, andstem celltreatments.
Home remedies can help soothe the itching associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Hot showers, exercise, spicy foods, and too many blankets in bed at night can all increase body temperature. Strong emotions may also cause hives in people with cholinergic urticaria.
The hives in cholinergic urticaria are smaller than a mosquito bite. Although each hive is only the size of a pinpoint, they can group together to form a large hive.
People with cholinergic urticaria sometimes haveasthma symptomsandlow blood pressure.
How to Cope With Chronic Hives
Antihistamines that do not make you feel tired are called non-sedating antihistamines. Examples of medications that can treat cholinergic urticaria include:
Some cases of refractory cholinergic urticaria improve with omalizumab.
Allegra vs. Zyrtec vs. Claritin: How Do They Compare?
Aquagenic urticaria(AU) is a rare kind of hives. The condition occurs when water comes into contact with the skin.
People with AU get hives within a few minutes of water touching their skin. The response happens no matter the water’s temperature—it’s not just from hot water.
The cause of aquagenic urticaria is unknown. Some researchers think that water reacts with sebum in the skin to form a substance that triggers an allergic reaction.
Causes and Diagnosis of Hives
AU can often be managed with non-sedating antihistamines. Other treatment options include:
Idiopathic aquagenic pruritus(IAP) is a rare condition that causes a person’s skin to itch after it gets water on it. However, unlike AU, itching from IAP does not come with a rash.
IAP likely happens because the nervous system is triggered when nerves in the skin release chemicals after they come into contact with water.
If you have IAP, finding the right ways to manage the condition might take some trial and error.
Possible treatments include:
At-Home Treatments
Each cause of itchiness after a shower has its own treatments, but here are some general tips to help you manage most causes of itchy skin.
Skin Self-Care
Here are a few things that you can try that might be helpful and will work for most skin problems that lead to itching.
When bathing:
After bathing:
In general:
Is Water Bad for Your Skin?
If you have itchy skin and other symptoms, the cause could be more severe than dry skin.
Here are a few reasons that you would want to seek medical care:
Even if you only have dry skin and not a more serious health condition, seeing your provider can be helpful. They can ensure you find a treatment that works to relieve your symptoms.
Can Vitamins Help Your Dry Skin?
Summary
However, more serious conditions can also cause skin itchiness, such as polycythemia vera, Hodgkin lymphoma, cholinergic urticaria, aquagenic urticaria, or aquagenic pruritus.
While these conditions aren’t as common as winter itch, if you have symptoms, you should see your provider.
Calamine Lotion Uses
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Augustin M, Wilsmann‐Theis D, Körber A, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of xerosis cutis–a position paper.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019;17(S7):3-33. doi:10.1111/ddg.13906Lelonek E, Matusiak L, Wrobel T, Szepietowski JC.Aquagenic pruritus in polycythemia vera: Clinical characteristics.Acta Derm Venereol. 2018;98(5):496-500.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Polycythemia vera.Ansell SM.Hodgkin lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment.Mayo Clin Proc.2015;90(11):1574-1583. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.07.005Moffitt Cancer Center.What does a rash from Hodgkin lymphoma look like?American Cancer Society.Rashes and skin changes.Altrichter S, Wosny K, Maurer M.Successful treatment of cholinergic urticaria with methantheliniumbromide.J Dermatol.2015;42(4):422-4. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.12765National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Aquagenic urticaria.Rothbaum R, McGee JS.Aquagenic urticaria: diagnostic and management challenges.J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:209-213. doi:10.2147/JAA.S91505National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Aquagenic pruritus.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Augustin M, Wilsmann‐Theis D, Körber A, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of xerosis cutis–a position paper.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019;17(S7):3-33. doi:10.1111/ddg.13906Lelonek E, Matusiak L, Wrobel T, Szepietowski JC.Aquagenic pruritus in polycythemia vera: Clinical characteristics.Acta Derm Venereol. 2018;98(5):496-500.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Polycythemia vera.Ansell SM.Hodgkin lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment.Mayo Clin Proc.2015;90(11):1574-1583. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.07.005Moffitt Cancer Center.What does a rash from Hodgkin lymphoma look like?American Cancer Society.Rashes and skin changes.Altrichter S, Wosny K, Maurer M.Successful treatment of cholinergic urticaria with methantheliniumbromide.J Dermatol.2015;42(4):422-4. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.12765National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Aquagenic urticaria.Rothbaum R, McGee JS.Aquagenic urticaria: diagnostic and management challenges.J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:209-213. doi:10.2147/JAA.S91505National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Aquagenic pruritus.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Augustin M, Wilsmann‐Theis D, Körber A, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of xerosis cutis–a position paper.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019;17(S7):3-33. doi:10.1111/ddg.13906Lelonek E, Matusiak L, Wrobel T, Szepietowski JC.Aquagenic pruritus in polycythemia vera: Clinical characteristics.Acta Derm Venereol. 2018;98(5):496-500.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Polycythemia vera.Ansell SM.Hodgkin lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment.Mayo Clin Proc.2015;90(11):1574-1583. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.07.005Moffitt Cancer Center.What does a rash from Hodgkin lymphoma look like?American Cancer Society.Rashes and skin changes.Altrichter S, Wosny K, Maurer M.Successful treatment of cholinergic urticaria with methantheliniumbromide.J Dermatol.2015;42(4):422-4. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.12765National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Aquagenic urticaria.Rothbaum R, McGee JS.Aquagenic urticaria: diagnostic and management challenges.J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:209-213. doi:10.2147/JAA.S91505National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Aquagenic pruritus.
Augustin M, Wilsmann‐Theis D, Körber A, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of xerosis cutis–a position paper.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019;17(S7):3-33. doi:10.1111/ddg.13906
Lelonek E, Matusiak L, Wrobel T, Szepietowski JC.Aquagenic pruritus in polycythemia vera: Clinical characteristics.Acta Derm Venereol. 2018;98(5):496-500.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Polycythemia vera.
Ansell SM.Hodgkin lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment.Mayo Clin Proc.2015;90(11):1574-1583. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.07.005
Moffitt Cancer Center.What does a rash from Hodgkin lymphoma look like?
American Cancer Society.Rashes and skin changes.
Altrichter S, Wosny K, Maurer M.Successful treatment of cholinergic urticaria with methantheliniumbromide.J Dermatol.2015;42(4):422-4. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.12765
National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Aquagenic urticaria.
Rothbaum R, McGee JS.Aquagenic urticaria: diagnostic and management challenges.J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:209-213. doi:10.2147/JAA.S91505
National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Aquagenic pruritus.
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