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Upper Legs Itch When I Run

(8 discussions)

Can anyone help me? When I am on the treadmill about 10 minutes into my run my legs, and thys begin to itch extremely badly. It is so bad that I quit running and have to walk the rest of my workout. When I scratch them it leaves these red long marks on my legs that looks like someone whipped me. I am very frustrated because I hear running is an excellent cardiovascular exercise. Please help!


8 comments

    May PT

    9 10

    Kaleya,It sounds like an exercise induced “Histamine Reaction”. You need to see either a Dermatologist or Internist, and tell them about your symptoms and what I suggested it could be. They might be able to treat you with some Rx anti-histamines which you can take prior to exercising. Please try to see a specialist who is familiar with treating this condition, and then write back to let us know how you make out. Good luck.

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    9 10

    Although I’m sorry to hear that this happens to you, it makes me feel better that I’m not the only one! When I walk at a fast pace, jog, or run, this always happens to me. It is unbearable, and whenever I speak to someone about it they have never heard of it and sometimes don’t believe me. I’m healthy, 5’5″, 115 lbs., 22 years old. I see no reason for this. Thanks for the advice, Scott. Hope you find relief, Kaleya!

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    9 10

    Oh my God… I thought it was just me also, please tell me you found help for this, if so please let me know. I love to run and now I can’t run more than 10-15 minutes before this happens..

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    9 10

    I have the same problem too. Until now, I didn’t think they had anything in the internet about it. I agree with the person that calls in exercise-induced Histamine reaction. From all the people I’ve talked to, and all the things I’ve read, it seems to affect primarily women. Most anti-histamines make you drowsy, but Claritin is a non drowsy anti-histamine that you may want to try. You can try your Internist also. He or she may know of someone who is an expert in this area.

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    9 10

    This happens to me too, even when I walk briskly. My mother is a nurse and used to be an avid jogger, and she said that it’s a result of increased circulation to the skin. If you take a LOT of niacin (might be spelled wrong), which helps increase circulation, you’ll often get the same effect without even exercising at all, so it makes sense that some cardiovascular activities could cause the same thing. Which would also indicate that you should save any vitamines containing niacin until AFTER you exercise, since it could make the sensation even more pronounced. I get this no matter WHAT, but I’ve noticed it’s not QUITE as bad if I’m wearing jogging shorts. I expect it’s because fabric against my legs, especially tight fabric, irritates it with both friction and containing heat. If nothing else, making sure there’s cool air circulating against my skin gives me more time before the it gets so bad I have to quit.

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    9 10

    : Me too! Sometimes it’s my whole body. If I’m consistent with my workouts it goes away after a week or so.

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    9 10

    : Oh my God… I thought it was just me also, please tell me you found help for this, if so please let me know. I love to run and now I can’t run more than 10-15 minutes before this happens..Me too! Sometimes it’s my whole body. If I’m consistent with my workouts it goes away after a week or so.

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      9 10

      I can’t believe this! I thought I was the only one it happened to. No one knew what I was talking about. In college I could run for miles but when I came back home, it started and now I can’t run more than 5 minutes without this happening. I don’t want to have to take drugs every time I run. Does anyone have a solution?

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