# Why do I itch when I work out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032 "2002-12-02T20:47:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stypticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@stypticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stypticus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/1 "2002-12-02T20:47:00Z")
Why do I itch when I work out? When I go for a jog, I sometimes get very itchy. Large patches of my skin start to itch, and generally do so for the duration of the workout. I’ve had this happen variously on my chest, back, abdomen, or legs, and I know of other people who have had the same symptom. I’ve conjectured that the itch is either due to the temperature (it generally happens when it’s cool outside; perhaps my hot skin gets confused when confronted with cold air) or the bounce (jogging, of course, causes my skin to bounce up and down on my bones). I don’t recall whether this happens when I ride my bike, but it doesn’t seem to happen when I exercise indoors. Anyone care to give me the Dope, Straightly? Stypticus ---
**Author:** ![Madhat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Madhat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madhat)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/2 "2002-12-02T20:56:47Z")
For me it was nylon thread in my garments (or even just in the stitching on a size tag). An itch anywhere would be “felt” somewhere else. Finally got switched to all-cotton with the tags unsewn. ---
**Author:** ![Superspy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Superspy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superspy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/3 "2002-12-02T21:02:13Z")
Interesting that you should mention that it was mostly during bouncing activities…because that is when your clothes would be most likely to rub on your skin. I agree that it is probably just a case of simple irritation from the friction of your clothes on your skin. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/4 "2002-12-02T21:11:14Z")
Not that I’m a doctor, I just sweat a lot. I think it is one of two possibilities. First one has been mentioned (clothing issues.) I ask you this, when you sweat without clothing on (either in the heat of passion or in a sauna) do you have the same itch? It could be that you are really sensitive to sweat and you feel each droplet form. Or it could be that you’ve been abducted by aliens…can you account for where you’ve been during the last 24 hours? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/5 "2002-12-02T21:12:01Z")
No, I don’t think so – this happens to me too. On bare skin. Like, red blotchy hives all up and down my legs. Mostly where the sweat isn’t soaked up by my workout clothes, actually. I believe that I have very acidic sweat (I tend to melt through watchbands in a few months) and my sweat may be irritating my skin. Is it possible? ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/6 "2002-12-02T21:17:05Z")
There is a slight possibility that you are actually allergic to exercise. I have a close co-worker who has to carry an epi-pen because he went into anaphylactic shock once due to over-exertion. It could just be the sweat, but you might want to see an allergist to make sure. ---
**Author:** ![stypticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@stypticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stypticus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/7 "2002-12-02T21:26:25Z")
Well, I’m pretty sure I’m allergic to exercise; that and my addiction to food are having obvious effects on my belly. But I don’t think that’s the issue. As I say, it doesn’t happen so much when I do other forms of exercise. I doubt it’s my sweat as my feet and armpits don’t itch. As for the aliens, they assured me the lotion they used was hypo-allergenic. I never would have agreed to the ‘neurotic massage’ otherwise. It could be the clothing, true… I’ve never had the opportunity to jog nude so I’m not sure how to test that hypothesis. I’ll have to consider the friction next time I’m out. Any thoughts on the temperature? Stypticus ---
**Author:** ![DocHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DocHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocHopper)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/8 "2002-12-02T21:37:49Z")
This happens to me too, especially on the legs and the back of my knees, where there is definitely no contact with any clothing. Like the OP, it happens when I’m outside jogging, but not really with other forms of exercise. Sweat in general does not irritate my skin. My wife laughs at me when I stop jogging and frantically scratch my legs, so I hope someone has the Dope on this! ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/9 "2002-12-03T01:51:10Z")
I just ran across this when I was researching possible causes of my own hives. Exercise causes some people to break out in hives. Basically, you can be allergic to exercise. You might want to see about getting an antihistamine like Zyrtec to control the symptoms. [Hives and Exercise](http://www.aafp.org/afp/20011015/1374ph.html) ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/10 "2002-12-03T03:28:28Z")
I have that same thing happen, but only when I’m really nervous. It RARELY happens, only when there’s something really important going on. And it’s usually on my neck or up around the cheeks of my face. ---
**Author:** ![stypticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@stypticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stypticus)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/11 "2002-12-03T03:58:32Z")
Thanks for the cite, **chula**. Of the symptoms listed, I have in the past had difficulty breathing, itchiness, and headaches. However, I seem to have outgrown the breathing issues (‘exercise-induced asthma’, the doc called it), and I tend not to get headaches when I’m properly hydrated. I definitely don’t get hives. Just itchiness. It doesn’t seem serious enough to warrant taking drugs. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-itch-when-i-work-out/140032/12 "2002-12-03T04:34:41Z")
There was a [similar question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=143685) posed a while ago. Might want to look into it.