itchy skin when exercising

[dange25 57]

has anybody got any theories on skin itching while brisk walking!!! it feels like my *curves* are the bits that get itchy first!!! around calf muscles first, then my lower butt, sometimes under my arms/side of breast lastly belly!!! weird!!!

Does anyone else get this??? is it a circulation issue???

penny for your thoughts!!!

cheers ange.

[cajun 46]

has anybody got any theories on skin itching while brisk walking!!! it feels like my *curves* are the bits that get itchy first!!! around calf muscles first, then my lower butt, sometimes under my arms/side of breast lastly belly!!! weird!!!

Does anyone else get this??? is it a circulation issue???

penny for your thoughts!!!

cheers ange.

Nope, I'm not "itchin to walk", but I do it anyway. :001_tt2:

[*susan* 1,709]

Oh my gosh, I thought this was some weird thing that I was the only person on the face of the earth to experience. I am so happy to know now that I am not alone in this! I have no idea what causes it, but would love it if someone could offer an explanation.

[deedee 5]

I've had this problem too. Someone once told me it was due to cellulite, but I never could find anything to back it up. I do know for me it tends to happen if I haven't been exercising in a while and when I start back up it's pretty bad. Once I start to scratch I have to keep it up because it does not alleviate the itch. Also it seems to be worse in the fall and winter (colder times). I hope someone can chime in with a reason/solution.

[*susan* 1,709]

It is definitely worse for me during the colder months.

[Malaika 50]

I have the same problem - but seems to be more when the exercise is walking or bike riding than just working out with weights -- I figured it had something to do with circulation and being out of shape - will be interesting to see if there is a medical reason for this.

[Guest deleted_user]

From LiveStrong.com

Perhaps nothing can be more vexing than uncontrollable itching while exercising. The burning and swelling add to your discomfort and ruin the quality of your workout. Some cases of itchy legs are caused by lack of fitness. Your body has not adapted to exercise to better direct blood flow. It can also indicate an allergic reaction or a more serious health condition, depending upon your symptoms. If your itchiness is accompanied by shortness of breath, seek medical attention immediately.

Your symptoms are caused by the body going into an inflammatory response directed by the immune system. Your body releases histamine, which in turn causes the redness and swelling you experience. Blood vessels dilate, which results in increased circulation. Hives develop with areas of redness. Several triggers can exist, including perspiration, heat or emotional stress. Scratching your itchy legs can aggravate the condition and increase your discomfort.

There are several biological causes for your itchiness. One condition is cholinergic urticaria, a disorder of the immune system. In this case, your body is responding inappropriately and becoming hypersensitive to some trigger. Your skin condition may also be indicative of a rare allergy called exercise-induced anaphylaxis. This disorder is accompanied by other symptoms, including wheezing, nausea and a choking sensation. Your itchiness may also be a reaction to some type of airborne allergen such as pollen.

On a personal note, I have been experiencing this same issue. It became so bad that it's all I can think about for the second half of my walk and when I go home, I run into the shower and scratch my skin till it becomes so red and then scrub my body like crazy. After reading a lot about the issue, I decided to change what I'm wearing on my walks because I noticed when I'm out walking with friends, I never experience the issue! So I switched from yoga pants to my old "fat" jeans, and wow, nothing! I just had the most amazing and peaceful walk ever and I am so happy! So try playing around with the materials you wear... and hopefully, it's not a circulation issue - you just have dry, sensitive skin like me because it's very unlikely for you to have a poor circulation issue before the age of 45 (from my readings) and I would think after getting sleeved, our overall health is better so we should not be having such an issue anyway.

Wishing you all the best! Don't give up and keep moving! It's the icing on the cake!

[Wallflower7522 328]

I've had this for years. You're literally allergic to exercise. It sounds like a joke but it's not. I've found that certain fabric, activities, and temperatures make a difference but it's an allergy so I pop a zyrtec on my way to the gym every morning. That completely stops it. Any allergy medicine should work.

[jenoliver 0]

It will be harmful to your skin and I personaly advice to consult a skin specialist so that prevent this provent this problem, please do'nt ignore it and go for doctor as soon as possible.

[KQH 69]

Yes and it was worse when I was heavier and in cold weather!