Danger of fire ants

Why itchiness occurs after a shower?

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Some individuals develop itchiness after taking a shower. It usually occurs after taking a long, warm shower during the winter season where the skin becomes minimally itchy after drying off and getting dressed.

In most cases, this is relatively mild and only lasts for a few minutes and associated to dry skin due to dry, cold air and taking long, hot showers. In some individuals, the itchiness that occurs after a shower might be severe, chronic and even debilitating. There are also various conditions that can trigger itchiness after exposure to hot showers. Even though most are benign, others can be life-threatening.

Certain conditions that causes itchiness

Xerosis

Many individuals of all ages suffer from dry skin but quite common among the elderly. The dry, irritated, itchy skin can occur in various skin issues that are collectively referred as eczema.

This condition is also called as winter itch since it typically occurs during the cold, dry winter season due to the repeated wetting and drying without moisturizing. The symptoms usually include itchy, dry, red and flaky skin with sore cracking on the feet and hands.

Cholinergic urticaria

Itchiness
Many individuals of all ages suffer from dry skin but quite common among the elderly. The dry, irritated, itchy skin can occur in various skin issues that are collectively referred as eczema.

This is a form of hives that is triggered by an increase in the body temperature. Hives are triggered by an increase in the body temperature such as exercise, hot showers, spicy foods or using too many covers in bed at night time.

Aquagenic urticaria

This is a rare form of hives triggered by water that comes in contact with the skin. Hives develops in just a few minutes of exposure to water, regardless of the temperature. The reason why this occurs is still unknown but it is believed that water allows a certain protein in the skin to be dissolved in the water in which it reaches the deeper skin layers to start an allergic reaction. A diagnosis is confirmed by placing a drop of water in room temperature on the skin and monitoring for the formation of hives in a few minutes.

Polycythemia vera

This is a disease involving the bone marrow in which there is excess production of red blood cells. Individuals who have this condition have thickened blood which can trigger symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, chest pain, visual changes, blood clots, bleeding, enlarged spleen and liver as well as “ruddy” complexion.

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