Assuming you are following the skin care information I’ve provided so far but you still find that every time you shower your entire body begins to itch and the problem lasts for either a brief span of time or longer, you may have an allergy to the bath or hair-care products you are using. It will take experimentation to find out exactly what the culprit ingredient is, but the best strategy is to switch to products that have no fragrance whatsoever. However, you may also want to check out the possibility that the laundry detergent or fabric softener you use for your clothes or linens may be the real offender. Fabric softener sheets pose an interesting chemical problem. These sheets are heat-activated in the dryer. When you shower and towel dry, a little of the fabric softener residue comes off on your skin. Then, the next time you take a hot shower, the residue is heat activated on your skin, causing the itching. The itching stops after about twenty or thirty minutes, as your body cools down again. Laundry detergent can also be a problem. Using laundry detergents that have less potential for causing skin irritation, such as Cheer Free, All Free & Clear, Arm &
Hammer Free, or Tide Free, can make a huge difference. Sleeping on pillowcases and sheets that have detergent or fabric softener residue can be a serious problem when you have dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin.
Hot water and showering can also cause problems for sensitive skin and can stimulate itching. I have advocated the use of tepid water for some time, particularly for the face, and it can make a difference for the body from the neck down if itching and rashes are an issue.
Another source of body itches can be the extremely irritating and drying salts that get deposited on the skin when you sweat. Instead of washing with bar cleansers or soaps, consider using a fragrance-free body wash. You will also want to avoid scrubs, loofahs, washcloths, bubble baths, and bath salts, all of which can trigger itchy skin.
Tight clothing such as jeans, nylons, tights, and leggings can also stimulate itching. The only way to prevent that is to loosen things up or do without. Nylons may be hard to give up, but for those with itchy thighs, wearing pants and cotton socks may be the only way to solve the problem.