Allergy in bath water. - Allergies Message Board

belly dancer · 04-01-2007, 05:42 AM

This is going to sound strange and has been going on for a couple of months.
I get very itchy prickly skin in the bath I am alright for about anywhere from 5-10 minutes and then my skin starts to prickly really bad all over the area my body is in the bath and I have to get out . It used to be longer 15 minutes perhaps.
I am someone who loves a good long soak and used to be able to have a bath for 1/2 an hour or even an hour with no such problems. The itchy feeling is not just a simply itch it is really unpleasant and causes me to get out straight away I can feel it instantly spreading all over my body.
I went to the doctor as we are on tank water and our tank was low he said first get town water delivered to see if somehow our tank was contaminated we did today and the same thing happened.
Next he said try QV bath oil or something similar or antihistimines. I feel rather depressed about the thought of having to medicate myself to have a bath or having to have bath oil that may or may not work.
Could this be a allergy to something else that is reacting to the water the only thing new in my life in the last few months is I have gone onto natural products for my hair and skin and now use shampoo bars, and soap bars and shea butter on my skin. I do not use anything in the bath though.
I love these products and hope it's not that and have not had problems with a itchy scalp or face from the soap bars on my face or the shea butter which I use on my face which makes me think if it was that I would have some sort of reaction.

Anyone have anything similar or anyother advice on what could be causing this or what to do.?
Thank you for any replies.

ICC · 04-01-2007, 06:36 AM

It could be residue from what you clean your tub with. I also love a nice hot bubble bath. I clean my tub with only dish detergent. I use an antibacterial type and it cleans the soap scum better than anything i have ever used. Since i have asthma and am allergic to chemicals this has made the whole ordeal easier for me.

ICC

looneybin · 04-01-2007, 07:22 AM

Has your doctor done any lab work? I am sure there are a number of things that could cause your symptoms. My husband has P Vera and allow he doesn't have that symptom, I remember reading that it was one of the symptoms of P Vera. P Vera is a blood disorder where basically your body produces too many red blood cells. Don't go freak out and start reading about it online because it will freak you out more, although most of the info online is not completely accurate. I would just ask your doctor to do a blood workup. Good luck!

Patthedog · 04-01-2007, 10:38 AM

When we lived in Hi. I had problems when taking a shower sometimes, I would actually break out in hives. Never did figure that one out.

dustoffkid · 04-01-2007, 11:16 AM

As usual, ICC has beat me to the punch...

It sounds like you are doing the right things for your skin, but this definitely has all of the earmarks of a skin allergy. Before self-diagnosing something horrendous, try the simple stuff first. I like the idea of the dish soap as a bathtub cleaner; I am going to start doing that too. More for effectiveness and cost-cutting (my bathtub doesn't hold water, no matter how much I'd like to have a good soak myself).

Also, I have found in the past that the Aveeno oatmeal bath is a lifesaver- maybe the colloidal oatmeal in it would help alleviate your symptoms. It's very soothing to the skin.

Good luck!