The doctor warned about possible leukemia with itching after a shower

Itching that occurs or worsens after a hot shower is quite common. In most cases, it is caused by quite "harmless" factors, such as excessive dryness of the skin or irritation from hygiene products. But in rare situations, itching can indicate serious diseases, including leukemia. On September 3, Alexandra Fileva, a dermatologist and expert at the Hemotest Laboratory, told Izvestia about the possible causes of skin itching.

"Most often, itching after a shower is associated with dry skin. Shower gels, shampoos, and soaps often contain sulfates and other components that can irritate the skin. In some people, itching is explained by an allergic reaction to the components of hygiene products — perfumes, dyes and preservatives," explains the doctor.

In rare cases, she says, this phenomenon is caused by cholinergic urticaria, an autoimmune disease in which body cells release substances that cause irritation in response to fever, nervous tension, or physical activity.

However, sometimes itching after a shower can be a symptom of leukemia, a malignant disease of the hematopoietic system.

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With leukemia, cytokines enter the bloodstream, substances that cause irritation and inflammation of the nerve endings in the skin, which leads to itching. In addition, with some types of leukemia, the concentration of histamine in the body increases — one of the provokers of skin itching.

"According to statistics, itching is most often observed in chronic myeloid leukemia — CML, true polycythemia, and T-cell leukemia. In CML, it is associated with an increase in histamine levels, and in true polycythemia, with an increase in the number of red blood cells. T-cell leukemia, in turn, affects the skin directly, causing intense itching and rashes, although this is not the only or most common symptom," says the specialist.

It must be remembered that itching in leukemia has specific features that distinguish it from other causes. It is rarely isolated and is accompanied by nosebleeds and gingival bleeding, anemia, pallor, shortness of breath and dizziness. Also, with leukemia, the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen usually enlarge. Weight decreases for no apparent reason, and body temperature rises to 38 degrees and above.

Itching with leukemia increases at night, does not decrease after taking antihistamines or corticosteroids.

Along with it, purple or reddish-brown plaques or nodules form on the skin, which are painless when pressed. Over time, they can ulcerate or become crusted. Petechiae also appear on the body — small flat hemorrhages that look like small red or purple dots. Unlike allergic rashes, such petechiae do not turn pale when pressed.

"At the same time, if itching is accompanied by night sweats, enlarged lymph nodes, gingival or nasal bleeding and bone pain, especially in the sternum and ribs, then you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible, without delay," Fileva emphasizes.

Oles Tikhonov, an orthopedic traumatologist and head of the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at the MedSwiss network of medical centers, said on August 19 that for joint health, foods such as mackerel, almonds, strawberries, olive oil and broccoli should be in the diet. He noted that salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring are among the main sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.