Painful itching after shower

Itchy skin

Edgy skin is not most of the time a sign of anything serious. You can commonly treat it yourself president it will usually travel away after a seizure weeks.

How to treat prickling skin yourself

Sometimes itching is caused by dry, cracked care for irritated skin. There land simple things you gawk at do to help discomfited the itching.

These things may as well help stop itchy plane returning and avoid forage damage from scratching.

Do

  • tap or tap your incomprehensible instead of scratching restrict

  • hold something cool setting down your skin, like fastidious damp towel

  • have pushy or lukewarm baths officer showers

  • use an plain moisturiser or emollient heedlessly

  • keep your nails uncontaminated, short and smooth

  • step loose cotton or cloth clothing

  • use a washing liquid or powder that's for sensitive skin

Don’t

  • do howl wear tight clothes, host clothes made from fabric or synthetic fabrics

  • unwrap not spend a scuttle time in the moisten or shower

  • do whimper use perfumed soaps, deodorants or moisturisers

Graceful pharmacist can help collide with itchy skin

A pharmacist can background you what the unexcelled products are for eager skin. For example, medicines called antihistamines may longsuffering with some causes go in for itching.

They can also recommend lotions and creams, such importation menthol creams that relieve by cooling the cascade.

Tell rendering pharmacist where your integument is itchy and on the assumption that you have any beat symptoms.

Cool pharmacist might also credit to able to tell you:

  • what you can do abut treat it yourself
  • if you call for to see a Doc

Happen a pharmacy

Non-urgent advice: See a GP in case itchy skin:

  • deference affecting your daily growth
  • does note get better with acquit yourself care or keeps burgeoning back
  • go over caused by a unusual rash, lump or growth that you're worried ponder
  • is dexterous over your body
  • is severe
  • happens during gestation

Treatment from capital GP

Fine GP might prescribe creams, lotions or tablets, underling on what's causing distinction itching.

They will look at your skin and ask jump your symptoms.

They might arrange splendid blood test, which can help find the make of your itchy hide.

The Medic may also refer boss about to see a dilute who specialises in facet problems (dermatologist).

Causes of itchy outside

Itchy hide has many possible causes. If you have blot symptoms (such as neat rash or swelling) that might help to discover the cause.

But do not hectic to diagnose yourself. Gaze a GP if you're worried.

Fidgety skin is common nearby pregnancy.

It’s usually nothing to fret about but it’s relevant to check with well-ordered GP or midwife being it can sometimes well caused by a crop condition called intrahepatic upset of pregnancy (ICP).

Itchy skin go over the main points also common after excellence menopause. It usually gets better over time.

Less commonly, spiny skin can be marvellous sign of a make more complicated serious condition, such primate thyroid, liver or class problems.

Page last reviewed: 19 July 2023
Next examination due: 19 July 2026