I am a 29 year old healthy female who has been dealing with itching of my legs and arms after showering since childhood. it usually lasts for 10-15 minutes after i exit the shower and seems to be relative to the amount of time that your pores actually take to close after being exposed to a hot shower and then a room temperature house. i sometimes experience the itching at night and it is usually calmed by keeping my legs under the covers. this issue, which i jokingly now refer to as "itchy legs syndrome" since i have never found a medical term for it, seems to be worse during the change of seasons when the temperature outdoors (and therefor indoors) is not consistent. i have sensitive skin and it doesnt seem to take well to rapid changes in weather. i also notice more flare ups during peak allergy seasons. i was lucky enough to speak with a doctor a few years back who actually understood what i was describing and gave me tips to help cope and alleviate some of the itching. he believed strongly that it was directly related to the pores of my body opening adn closing, which for some people causes irritation. here are some tips he gave me, as well as ones that i've learned over the years. i know how frustrating and annoying this can be so after reading these posts i wanted to share with you all what i know to help. it was also very comforting to read about others who have this problem because i truly havent met anyone else (besides one cousin of mine) who deals with this strange ailment!
1. the most important part of my showering routine and the thing that seems to keep this at bay the most is to run the shower water for about 3 minutes before i enter the bathroom and step into the shower. regulating the temperature of the room so that is equal in the shower and outside of the shower seems to help tremendously as your pores arent immediately shocked by the temp. change (i know it is wasteful to let water run so just try to conserve in other situaitons of you feel bad like i do..it is that important!)
2. before exiting the shower i bring the towel in with me and i pat dry starting immediately with my legs and arms, then the rest of my body. i am compoletely dry before i step out into the bathroom
3. it is also helpful if you immediately apply lotion (unscented, hypo-allergenic, i prefer aveeno as these products are made for sensitive, dry and itchy skin) to your legs and arms FIRST...this was told to me by my doc. he said that this helps to block the pores with lotion so that they close slower. this really helps alleviate the itching.
4. putting clothes on immediately after that cover the legs and arms (even a big robe) seems to help while i am getting ready. usually by the time i am ready to dress my skin is calm and good to go!
good luck, i hope these tips are helpful! if anyone has anymore (which is actually the original reason that i logged on today during and itchy episode!) please share!