Redness, rashes, and skin spots after showering?

I’m 14, and basically every other time I hop out of the shower, I get these red, circular spots all over my leg—running from my foot all the way up to my knee. It’s not🙂 exactly painful, but they itch like crazy. They disappear within a minute or two, though. Does anyone have any clue what's causing this? Is it just the shitty tap water here in Chicago or something else?

I recently noticed a red spot on my ankle after showering as well. It wasn't itchy or painful, and it vanished just as quickly as it appeared. 😕

mellowbison9 said:I recently noticed a red spot on my ankle after showering as well. It wasn't itchy or painful, and it vanished just as quickly as it appeared. 😕

Exactly. Honestly, who knows what kind of junk is actually in our tap water these days.

The only difference is that I'm dealing with the water in Los Angeles.🙂

mellowbison9 said:The only difference is that I'm dealing with the water in Los Angeles.🙂

Unless it’s just an allergy to chlorine or something equally minor...

I can't say I've ever run into that issue myself. I'll be sure to keep an eye out from now on.

It could honestly be an allergy to the water itself or even just the temperature—maybe aquagenic urticaria or some kind of cholinergic urticaria

These little spots always pop up right after I take a shower with water that’s just a bit too hot—specifically in areas where the spray hits directly or where the water tends to pool... I notice them on my knees every single time I get out of the shower...

Olivia Stewart3 said:I’m 14, and basically every other time I hop out of the shower, I get these red, circular spots all over my leg—running from my foot all the way up to my knee. It’s not🙂 exactly painful, but they itch like crazy. They disappear within a minute or two, though. Does anyone have any clue what's causing this? Is it just the shitty tap water here in Chicago or something else?

It all comes back to the hot water... again. Honestly, what is it with this infrastructure? You expect a certain level of basic functionality when you're paying these prices, don't you? But no. Just when you need a moment of normalcy, the system fails. It’s always something. Is it the pipes? The grid? Or just the general decay of everything we take for granted? Who even knows anymore? One minute you're ready to wash the day off, and the next, you're staring at a cold showerhead wondering where it all went wrong. Typical.

Try taking a dip in some colder water! Those spots are just from excessive vasodilation!

Maybe try switching up your body wash. I deal with allergic reactions from certain brands all the time—Dove, Palmolive, Johnson’s... you name it. I also tend to take pretty hot showers. Once I started swapping out my soaps, the reactions finally stopped. The only annoying part is the trial and error when you're trying something new and aren't sure if it'll actually work for you.

placidcanyon24 said:It all comes back to the hot water... again. Honestly, what is it with this infrastructure? You expect a certain level of basic functionality when you're paying these prices, don't you? But no. Just when you need a moment of normalcy, the system fails. It’s always something. Is it the pipes? The grid? Or just the general decay of everything we take for granted? Who even knows anymore? One minute you're ready to wash the day off, and the next, you're staring at a cold showerhead wondering where it all went wrong. Typical.

It’s not the hot water. Trust me, I know exactly what happens when you take a steaming hot shower.

Look, there's a huge difference between skin irritation from hot water and an actual allergy. If you're saying it "itches a little," then it's obviously an allergy.

I have a major problem!!!
Whenever I shower, red patches and a rash break out on my legs, and now it’s starting to spread to my arms and everywhere else.😠It didn't itch at first, but about a month ago, the itching started... and the rash usually clears up after an hour or so. Does "water allergy" even exist? Or could it be my body reacting to bath products? I've tried several different brands, but the result is always the same. Is there any way to avoid this? Please let me know if you have advice... also, if anyone else is dealing with this, please reach out. Thanks in advance...🤷

It’s possible you’re dealing with some form of physical urticaria, though I can't say for certain without more data.

Essentially, we're looking at a cluster of allergic conditions triggered by external physical stressors—think cold, pressure, heat, or even sunlight and UV exposure. There is also aquagenic urticaria, which is triggered by water contact, and cholinergic urticaria, where the skin reacts to a rise in body temperature from things like hot showers, overheating, or intense exercise.

Aquagenic urticaria tends to show up more frequently in younger women.

You really ought to have this looked into to confirm if that's actually what's happening.

Do you have any idea where one might verify that???

A dermatologist will provide the final word, but your own observations are critical for an accurate diagnosis. Do these skin changes trigger specifically when you shower with hot or cold water, or does temperature not seem to matter at all? You might try a little self-experiment: test a small patch of skin with cooler water first, then try warmer water later. If the reaction occurs regardless of the temperature, you could be looking at aquagenic urticaria. Another way to test this is to see if any changes occur during activities that cause sweating, like a set of crunches or some light cardio.

Since the symptoms fade so quickly, it would be wise to take photos to show your dermatologist during your appointment.

Additionally, check for dermographism—essentially, seeing if you can "write" on your skin by lightly tracing it with a pencil.

edit: There is no need to reopen this thread. 😉

And certainly make sure to loop in your primary care physician about what you're experiencing.

I used to get this only after taking a hot shower, though I'm not sure if cold water makes a difference—I'll give it a shot. Also, do you seriously think someone could write on their skin with a pencil? I know we don't need to keep rehashing this, but whenever I log off Reddit and come back later, my own threads and comments seem to have vanished, only to miraculously reappear the next day...

To perform a dermographism test, grab a ballpoint pen and take the cap off—or just use one that’s out of ink. Have someone write a few words on your back with it. Wait a few minutes and see if you can feel any raised lettering with your fingers or actually see the marks on your skin.

As for testing sensitivity to temperature, you can try it yourself. Run some cold water, or perhaps warm water similar to what you'd use in a standard shower, over a small patch of your forearm for a few minutes. Watch closely for any skin reactions. If the reaction looks intense, stop immediately.

Look, these DIY tests aren't a substitute for a professional medical consultation. However, they can be useful tools when you sit down with a dermatologist; having specific observations helps point them in the right direction.

Also, snap some photos of any changes that occur after you shower and bring those to your appointment.

edit: Regarding the comment about the thread disappearing and reappearing, it’s likely because we merged your original thread into this one since the topics overlap. Please post here from now on. Hopefully, everything is visible now.

Much appreciated!