If You Get Itchy After Taking A Shower, This Might Be Why
Most people shower once or twice per day. It should be a normal routine, but sometimes showering can lead to itchy skin. Here's why you might be getting itchy after you rinse off.
According to Harvard Medical School, about two-thirds of Americans shower every day. Some people wash daily to control body odor while others do it to wake themselves up. But showering every day usually isn't necessary. Unless your lifestyle makes you sweaty and grimy every day, a few showers per week should be fine for most people. Someone who goes for a long run every morning, for example, probably needs to wash the sweat off their bodies after each workout. However, someone who doesn't work out or perform much physical activity during the day can usually go a day or two between rinses.
So what happens if you do shower every day? For some people, this can cause skin irritation and itchiness. Your skin naturally has a layer of oil and healthy bacteria, but showering washes this layer off. Short showers with cool water may not have much of an effect, but long showers with hot water can strip your skin of its natural moisture and cause dryness. It can also remove the healthy bacteria on the skin and allow bad bacteria to grow instead.
How to prevent itchy skin after showering
When possible, cut down on the number of times you shower per week. Don't shower more than you need to. There are also a few techniques you can use after your shower to avoid itchiness. Patting your skin dry instead of rubbing it with your towel can avoid stripping your skin of its natural oils (via Healthline). You can also apply an unscented moisturizer to the parts of your body that tend to feel dry and itchy after showering.
If you are experiencing a rash after bathing, try switching out your soap or body wash for something that is hypo-allergenic. You can also rub an anti-itch cream onto the irritated parts of your skin for a soothing effect.
If your itchiness doesn't subside in a few hours or you can't find a remedy that works, visit your doctor or dermatologist. Some medical conditions can cause irritated skin. Whatever the problem is, a medical professional should help you figure out how to soothe your skin.