Below, six reasons for the itch and how to verify yourdaily rinsestays soothing.
What causes itchy skin after the shower?
Say it with us: A compromisedskin barrierleads to dry, irritated, itchy skin.
A strong skin barrier starts in the showerat least for the neck down.
That said, it’s worth paying attention to your shower habits.
Let’s start with one of the most common culprits for itchy skin post-shower: your soap.
The water is too hot.
Your showers are too long.
Read: The longer you expose your skin to hot water, the more it’ll strip your skin.
And if you live in an area of hard water?
You’re showering too often.
This may come as a surprise, but you might not need to shower every single day!
You’re using an irritating laundry detergent.
For some, it’s more about the toweling-off than the shower itself, depending on whichlaundry detergentyou use.
You have a sensitive skin condition.
Due to its drying nature, water is a common trigger for sensitive skin conditions.
According to theNational Eczema Association, “Too much contact with water or improper bathing can actually cause irritation.
Especially if you repeatedly get your skin wet without moisturizing it immediately afterward.”
How to manage it.
To avoid irritation from skin-stripping ingredients, we recommend, well, avoiding those ingredients in your cleansers.
(Find our favorite moisturizing body washeshere.)
Take cooler or shorter showers.
As many derms will tell you: Stick to lukewarm showers.
This is a sign that you have tremendously rehydrated your skin."
Moisturize right after.
After covering the body with moisture (water), sealing it all in is key.
You’ll also want toleave your skin a bit dampso theocclusivescan really lock in that hydration.
So don’t dry off right away!
postbiotic body lotion
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Chill your lotions and creams.
See a dermatologist.
The takeaway.
Feeling itchy after a shower is quite commonit essentially means you have a compromised skin barrier.
Remember to keep your shower time to a minimum, rinse under warm (not hot!)
water, use gentle body washes and moisturize right after.
This way, your skin can stay clean without losing any moisture.
