# Why do I get itchy when I get in the shower? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 10, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581 "2009-09-10T17:39:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Transistor\_Rhythm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Transistor\_Rhythm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Transistor_Rhythm)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/1 "2009-09-10T17:39:12Z")
I’m finding that when I get in the shower in the morning, my body gets itchy patches on it within a few seconds of getting wet. They’re mostly on my legs. There is sometimes some actual redness as well. Why is this? It seems like the water is making me itch. ---
**Author:** ![StaudtCJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@StaudtCJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StaudtCJ)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/2 "2009-09-10T18:14:43Z")
Has your water company recently changed its filtration methods or additives? That would be my first thought, if it was a new symptom, which you seem to indicate. I’d ask them, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Never\_Say\_Dice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee59a6/32.png) [@Never\_Say\_Dice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Say_Dice)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/3 "2009-09-10T18:36:02Z")
Do you take a morning vitamin before showering? Niacin can make your skin itch, and should only be taken with food. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/4 "2009-09-10T18:49:43Z")
Have you changed what you use to wash your sheets recently? Perhaps there is something in it that causes some sort of allergic reaction when it comes into contact with water. ---
**Author:** ![Transistor\_Rhythm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Transistor\_Rhythm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Transistor_Rhythm)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/5 "2009-09-10T19:22:14Z")
I forgot to mention; this is nothing new, but has gone on for years. ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/6 "2009-09-10T20:00:14Z")
I occasionally have the same issue. I associate it with dry skin, moisturizer helps. If it’s severe I’ve used Benadryl. ---
**Author:** ![StaudtCJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@StaudtCJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StaudtCJ)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/7 "2009-09-10T20:29:52Z")
The chance of a sensitivity to H2O that has gone undiagnosed long enough for you to post intelligently on a message board is exceptionally slim, so I’d be willing to wager that it’s either dry skin or something in the water/soap/detergent/clothing causing your issue. Have you discussed it with a physician, if available? ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/8 "2009-09-10T23:35:05Z")
There is such a thing as aquagenic urticaria, heat-induced urticaria and cold-induced urticaria. All might fit your description here, depending on the temperature of the water. All have variable presentations. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/9 "2009-09-11T01:05:35Z")
Most poison ivy sufferers like me know about the hot water cure for itchiness. Apparently hot water draws the histamines to the surface of the skin and causes a moment of intense itching before the histamines are depleted. I wonder if the OP is experiencing some milder version of this. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/10 "2009-09-11T03:24:34Z")
I had a roommate once, a big burly 6’2", 250 lb guy who had to put moisturizing cream on his legs before showering in the morning. Yeah, I laughed at him. I sometime also do get a mild itchiness on my legs too, and it certainly seems more prevalent in the winter. So, dry skin must have something to do with it… I’m guessing. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-itchy-when-i-get-in-the-shower/509581/11 "2009-09-11T14:43:23Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Most poison ivy sufferers like me know about the hot water cure for itchiness. Apparently hot water draws the histamines to the surface of the skin and causes a moment of intense itching before the histamines are depleted. I wonder if the OP is experiencing some milder version of this. It happens to me sometimes too, and I’ve always thought it was some variation on this. I also get super itchyness on the inside of my thighs when I’ve been running around getting sweaty at times. I’ve always found that for me, sometimes, heat=itchy.