WHY AM I SO ITCHY AFTER I SHOWER!?

It will start as a light buzz and grow into a tsunami of sensation, demanding all of your attention.

Whatever you do, DO. NOT. SCRATCH. Personally, antihistamines - a tool I generally avoid - would be my only escape. So normally, I take it on the chin and fight the urge of the itch.

But about last night -

Last night I was also being emotionally and physically tormented by Mosquitos. To counteract this, I sprayed on myself a simple DIY Cooling Mint Spritz - Mosquitos can't stand Mint - and for the first time something suspicious started happening. A possibility I never considered prior.

Did I just spritz the itch away? Can the itch go away? Immediately, my mind started racing, filled with hope - and to my dry and dear dusty brothers and sisters, I have found a solution.

Why do we itch after showers?

It is rather well known that showering - with standard soaps and boiling hot water - can be very stripping to your skin. It leaves your skin dry without protective oils to soften your skin, keep moisture from evaporating and keep irritants out.

Your skin being in this unnaturally dehydrated state causes many biological outcomes:

• Skin Barrier Disruption: Your skin being dry means that its protective barrier has become compromised. This can disrupt the dermal microbiome and cause tiny cracks in your skin - allowing irritants in more easily and your skin to become more sensitive and reactive.
• Nerve Stimulation: Dry skin triggers the nerve endings in your body, sending "itch" signals to the brain.
• Inflammatory Responses: This pairs well with the Nerve Stimulation point, as the bodies response to the nerve stimulation is to release histamine and cytokines (i.e. an inflammatory response). This is actually what feels like the sensation of itching, why it turns red and why anti-histamines can assist in soothing itching.
• Increased Skin Tension: Dry skin (just like dry hair) is less flexible. This makes it feel tight and easier to crack.
• Reduced Natural Lubrication: Dry skin does not have natural oils to protect it from friction with the environment. This makes your skin more sensitive to sensation as any particle has immediate contact with your skin itself instead of a protective oil layer.

Can Having Dry Skin have long term negative effects?

We don't often consider it, but an itch is our body telling us that something is wrong. We are exposed and vulnerable. As Dermal Microbiome science progresses, we learn more and more about the eco-system living on our flesh that we mutualistically coexist with.

Dryness drastically harms that ecosystem. Here's the thing about skin though - it's resilient. A single battle with dryness won't necessarily disrupt your microbiome. But the more your skin's microbiome is forced to fight for survival, the weaker it becomes-and the itchier we get.

The long-term side effects to chronic dry and itchy skin:

• Due to the cracks and probable scratching, your skin could thicken, scar and have permanent texture changes.
• Constant microscopic cracks can allow harmful bacteria into your system - increasing the risk of disease and infections.
• Due to the microbiome disruption, your skin becomes vulnerable to the colonization of other, less helpful bacteria (like Staphylococcus Auseus, which can cause infection).
• Constantly triggering your inflammatory response can stress your body, increasing the risk of skin conditions like eczema and making your skin generally more sensitive over time.
• The constant dryness could aggravate current skin conditions like Eczema, Psoriasis and accelerate aging.
• Constant dry skin can ruin your mental health by sleepless itchy nights, shame around rashes and a general negative impact on your quality of life.

Menopause and The Unspoken Victims of Dry Skin

As I was researching into this I stumbled into a sizeable epiphany:
"Menopause can cause the skin to itch as estrogen levels move from a dynamic cycle to stagnant low levels. When this happens, our hormones have increased levels of cortisol which leads to drying and weathering of the skin which can cause itchiness." says Dr. Markowitz (*7).

You know what I realized as well? My grandmother struggled with itchy skin, her sisters do, my mother started developing eczema as she got older and my aunts (on dads' side) suddenly found a deep need for truly moisturizing creams - struggling with harder hands.

I always assumed that it was medication side effects and years of washing dishes - but there may have been an unsuspected hormonal role in this all along.

The Link between Lifestyle and Itchy Skin

What do arthritis, dementia, and eczema flare-ups have in common? Inflammation. Even emotional stress plays a role - by triggering the release of cortisol and various cytokines, it can spark inflammatory responses that manifest as eczema flare-ups, (4) highlighting the importance of managing inflammation both internally and externally, directly and indirectly.

For instance, MSM was initially recognized for its benefits in treating and combating arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Part of that mechanism is to reduce cytokines- proteins responsible for itching. This highlights the value of antioxidants in both skincare and diet for managing itchiness and supporting overall skin health.

To combat general inflammation, we can focus on three key areas:

1. Diet: Reduce inflammatory foods and prioritize antioxidant-rich options.
2. Products: Choose fewer irritating formulations, avoiding ingredients like synthetic fragrances and parabens.
3. Lifestyle: Intentionally incorporate stress-reduction practices - both mentally and physically.

Why are Some People Born with Such Sensitive Skin? C-Sections and the Microbiome

I found an article on Pubmed (*1) stating

• In a C-section birth, the baby's microbiome contains a high percentage of bacteria from the operating room, meaning the skin bacteria is more influenced by the surgical, sterile environment.
• In a Vaginal Birth, the baby's microbiome has a low proportion of operating room bacteria while a high proportion of bacteria from their mothers... canal :)

This matters because a newborn's first bacterial exposure shapes early immune development. Vaginal births transfer beneficial bacteria from the mother, while C-sections result in a microbiome influenced more by the hospital environment.

Now, I am in no way saying that there should be any guilt or pressuring of mothers to do natural births. This is all an attempt to help us understand the problem, finding causes and therefore creating more apt solutions.

Some hospitals started doing Vaginal Seeding

Vaginal Seeding is when you swab the infant delivered by C-Section with bacteria from their mother's vagina shortly after they are born. Started by Jose Clemente, a geneticist and Gloria Dominguez Bello, a microbial ecologist, they found that Vaginal Seeding indeed restored microbes that C-section babies lacked. (*2)

Personally, I'm not that keen on soaking in Vagina juice - but that does seem like a viable solution for little babies.

At what point should Itchy Skin concern us to the point of Drs?

Itchy skin after a hot shower is common and usually not a cause for concern. There are however situations where itchy skin might be a symptom of a deeper issue. Some of these issues include:

• Xerosis: Chronically dry skin that can worsen with heat and hot water exposure.
• Polycythemia Vera (PV): A bone marrow disease where the body makes too many red blood cells.
• Hodgkin Lymphoma: A cancer of the lymph nodes. It causes the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, groin, or chest to grow.
• Cholinergic Urticaria: A kind of hives that is caused by an increase in body temperature.
• Aquagenic Urticaria: A rare kind of hives that happens when water comes into contact with the skin.
• Idiopathic Aquagenic Pruritus: Another rare condition where contact with water causes a person to itch, but this does not come with a rash.

Please go to the Dr if:

1. The itchiness gets worse with home remedies.
2. The itchiness comes with other symptoms like fevers or losing weight.
3. The rashes or sores look infected and / or are bleeding.

If you do suspect that something more may be wrong - don't hesitate - go to the Dr. Even if it's not something serious, their advice can be helpful in finding a treatment (preferably natural) that works to relieve your symptoms.

What can we do about itchy skin?

Lifestyle Adjustments

• If you have hard water or water tainted with chemicals (like iron or calcium), consider getting a water filter.
• Try to keep the water temperature around and below 45°C - with occasional temperatures up till 55°C only in short bursts (even these short bursts are risky).
• Limit shower time to around five minutes.
• Pat your skin dry, while leaving it slightly damp.
• Apply unscented moisturizer or body oils (like Baobab) shortly after bathing, before the water evaporates.
• Consider using skincare products that contain pre-biotics to nurture the skin microbiome.
• Consider keeping your moisturizer in the fridge for instant relief. A cooler temperature constricts your blood vessels (called vasoconstriction), which tricks the nerves that sense itch and leads to a cooling, soothing effect.
• Cut out harsh products (containing sulphates, parabens and fragrances, etc.) and use microbiome-friendly products on your skin.
• Apply soap only to areas where it's needed. Many times, a rinse may suffice for other areas.
• For deep rehydration, take a tepid shower until the skin wrinkles.
• Limit body exfoliation to once a week, but stop completely if it causes post-shower itching.
• Avoid harsh scrubs, harsh washcloths and buffers.
• When bathing, consider adding a bath oil, colloidal oatmeal or baking soda.
• Check your laundry detergents for potential skin irritants on your clothes and towels.
• Intentionally Destress, as stress can worsen existing skin conditions like eczema and make the sensation of itching more intense after showering.

Last but not least: See a dermatologist - sometimes we need professional help. It may be an allergy or underlying condition.

Key Products for itchy skin:

• Virgin Coconut Oil:

When my colleague Anika shared how Virgin Coconut Oil helps manage her son's eczema; I was intrigued to investigate it further. The science backs up her experience: clinical research (*6) shows that Virgin Coconut Oil reduces eczema severity in children by 68.23%, both moisturizing the skin and fighting harmful bacteria.

• Vegetable Glycerine:

Glycerine is deeply moisturizing and plays crucial role in skin cell maturation and development. It helps skin cells mature properly through a complex cellular signalling process and has shown beneficial in treating conditions like psoriasis and improving wound healing. (*8)

• Aloe Vera:

A study found that Aloe Vera significantly reduced skin redness in people suffering with burns, working better than hydrocortisone. (*5) The study stated that Aloe Vera "- could be a potential treatment for sunburn and other inflammatory skin conditions."

• Gotu Kola:

Gotu kola strengthens the skin barrier by boosting ceramide and hyaluronic acid production, helping dry skin retain moisture. Its anti-inflammatory properties soothe redness, irritation, and itchiness. (*10) The herb also accelerates wound healing by stimulating collagen synthesis, making it ideal for repairing cracked or damaged skin. Additionally, its antioxidants protect against oxidative stress, preventing further skin damage from the environment.

• Colloidal Oatmeal:

Colloidal Oatmeal in creams, or even a bath with 1 - 2 cups of Colloidal Oatmeal (shoved in a sock) could have major benefits for people suffering with skin conditions. In a study (*4) colloidal oatmeal was found to have direct anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that helped improve subjects skin condition.

• Lactic Acid:

Lactic acid helps with dry and itchy skin due to its dual action as a humectant and gentle exfoliant, improving hydration and skin barrier function. A study using a cream (*11) with 12% Lactic Acid (neutralized) and 1% Pramoxine Hydrochloride (a numbing agent) on women with a history of dry, itchy skin found that:

• The treated leg showed significant improvement in dryness compared to the untreated leg by day 3, with even better results by day 7.
• Skin hydration improved significantly by day 3 and continued improving through day 7.
• Participants reported a noticeable reduction in itchiness by day 1, which improved further through day 7.

Essential Oils for Itching to consider would be:

• Peppermint Essential Oil - For a cooling effect
• German Chamomile Essential Oil - As an anti-inflammatory (particularly the Bisabolol levels in it helps to sooth)
• Tea Tree Essential Oil - As an Anti-Bacterial
• Rose Geranium and Lavender Essential Oil - Soothing the skin
• Copaibai Essential Oil - Helps address itching and inflammation (due to its similar chemistry to CBD)

Remember to dilute these in either a carrier oil (like Jojoba or Baobab) or solubilised in a water base.