![\"Running](\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/08163940\/Runners-Itch-600-Running-Man.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nYour running playlist is perfect. You\u2019ve hit a great stride. You\u2019re on pace to beat your record time.<\/p>\n
Then, suddenly, your skin starts to feel itchy and tingly, kind of like you passed through a poison ivy patch. What causes this \u201crunner\u2019s itch\u201d \u2014 and should you be concerned?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n
Runner\u2019s itch is an irritation of the skin that can surface during strenuous exercise. The itch can occur anywhere on your body, including your stomach and arms, but it\u2019s most common on the legs.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, it\u2019s not usually a concern, especially if it goes away soon after you stop running. Many people also report that it runner\u2019s itch only occurs when you\u2019re new to running and that the problem should sort itself out over time.<\/p>\n
If the itchiness doesn\u2019t subside \u2014 or it\u2019s accompanied by symptoms like hives or dizziness \u2014 talk to your doctor.<\/p>\n
Here are two of the most common reasons why you might be itchy.<\/p>\n
One common cause of runner\u2019s itch is increased blood flow. This occurs most with people who are new to running or haven\u2019t run in a while.<\/p>\n
The intensity of the activity boosts your heart rate, which leads to expanded arteries, capillaries, and blood vessels as well as more blood flow to the muscles.<\/p>\n
When that happens, nerve cells throughout the body can become stimulated. So what you\u2019re feeling is not technically an itch but rather fired-up nerves.<\/p>\n
Another possible cause \u2014 especially if the itchy area is covered by your clothing \u2014 is a mild allergic response to a product you\u2019re using, such as laundry detergent or soap.<\/p>\n
Fragrances among these products tend to be one of the top culprits for contact dermatitis, which is an itch caused by contact with an allergen, says Lily Adelzadeh, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in California.<\/p>\n
As you sweat, your pores open up more, which could make you more likely to have a reaction.<\/p>\n
Some people may also experience exercise-induced urticaria, a condition which causes allergic symptoms like hives or swelling during or after physical activity.<\/p>\n
If you think this might be your issue, your doctor can help you identify potential triggers and control your allergic reactions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Prevention steps are helpful, but what can you do in the moment for that super itchy sensation?<\/p>\n
Adelzadeh suggests rubbing your legs instead of scratching, since scraping the skin can make it more irritated.<\/p>\n
You may also want to try carrying a small bottle or baggie of unscented moisturizer with you, because dry skin can exacerbate the issue.<\/p>\n
If possible, keep running. Getting your full workout will help you adjust faster and leave runner\u2019s itch behind.<\/p>\n
But if your symptoms are severe or they don\u2019t subside, talk to your doctor about possible treatment options.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Your running playlist is perfect. You\u2019ve hit a great stride. You\u2019re on pace to beat your record time. Then, suddenly, your skin starts to feel itchy and tingly, kind of like you passed through a poison ivy patch. What causes this \u201crunner\u2019s itch\u201d \u2014 and should you be concerned? Here\u2019s what you need to know. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1886,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fitness"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1885"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1887,"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1885\/revisions\/1887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}