Eczema Support Group

I find that hot water (like in a shower) feels awesome while its hitting me, but as soon as I step out I feel like ripping my skin off. I actually found that a cool shower works better for me. when its on my hands I've been just rubbing it with steroids as soon as they start getting itchy. I think its been working. Good luck buddy

my skin feels horrible if i dont wash often so i def think this is something!

i use an oil based cream called Epaderm
as it can be used as a cream or as a soap alternative
it works well as it keeps the skin moist for a long time

Freaky

it's true that hot water makes your skin feel better because the nerves are essentially going into shock from the sudden temperature rise, so your brain cuts off the receptors to the parts of the body that are getting hit with the hot water. the problem is hot water or even water in general removes the oils that are on your skin and dries it out once it the water evaporates which causes more itching. really this is more of a temporary solution to itching but it's not a good one since you are really just agitating the skin even more. if you are familiar with rosacea it is kind of the same concept. the real reason you probably itched less after the shower is because of the moisturizer you applied directly after it. that is when your pores are open in your skin and soak up lotions faster and more efficiently. that is why it's recommended to put on your moisturizer literally the second you get out of the shower. I personally have found if I wait even five minutes that is already too long and my skin is dry already.

hot water tends to actually hurt me.
ive found out that cold water helps me stop itching.

Hot water has a drying effect = bad.

I DO however find it easier to shed excess skin layers in the shower. This works fine with cooler water as well, but gently exfoliate to avoid the irritation of scratching.

Sometimes letting a light moisturizer penetrate thick skin layers before a shower helps with the exfoliation (but that moisturizer essentially goes down the drain immediately).

We are fighting a fight of moisture loss and irritation. There are lots of little things that challenge us, we must be diligent to avoid out triggers. Gothkorngoddess hit the nail on the head with the nerve receptors freaking out (essentially you are feeling pleasure because the nerve receptors are overloaded with pain and they are trying to help you cope).

Scalding your skin while scratching is about the worst thing you can do.

Hello, i'm new, i've joined as am feeling very upset about my skin.

I also try hot water to help stop the itching on my arms and legs. It feels like heaven at first but then i pay the price after wards , my skin is so bad. i have to double up on the cream i use.

I really dont want to burn my skin with hot water but the urge is too much sometimes !

Hot water's bad for me too. Heat in general actually. Like washing dishes, wearing gloves, but with really hot water. Anyone else notice that?

If my ankles itch like crazy at night, I throw an ice pack in my bed with me and move it around my ankles when I'm going to sleep. The cold helps kill the itch for a while. The hot water feels amazing in the shower because you're burning the itch, but it comes back. Ever lose circulation in a body part? Know how your nerves tingle a lot (itch) when feeling comes back to them? It's the same thing. New itchy feeling because you traumatized your nerves, and now they are letting feeling back into that body part.