Running provides an intense aerobic workout to your body, increasing your heart and respiratory rates and burning calories at a rapid rate. These aerobic effects help keep your weight under control and can also help reduce your risks for diseases like diabetes and heart diseases. However, when running is uncomfortable due to a nagging need to itch, it can be difficult to keep running on a regular basis. Understanding what is causing the itch can help you get back on the running path itch free.
Path Irritants
If you regularly run through paths filled with weeds or dust, your itching may be associated with allergens in the air or allergens that are kicked up by your running that land on the skin. Running trails with thicker vegetation may also contain plants like poison oak or poison ivy which can cause your skin to itch if you come in contact with the plant. All these substances can cause your body to produce histamine in the affected area, which causes a range of effects from itching to the development of welts or hives.
Exercise-Induced Allergy
A rare amount of people who experience itchy skin while running are actually allergic to the exercise itself, which is also known as exercise-induced urticaria. Those suffering from this disorder have an allergic reaction to the effects exercise produces on the body, such as the increase in body temperature or exposure to sweat. Exercise-induced allergies may also be affected by the foods you eat before you run, suggests the American Academy of Family Physicians. Keeping a food journal of what you eat before you run can help you track down which foods may be responsible for contributing to the itching. Taking an antihistamine before running may also help block the allergic reaction.
Workout Fabric
Itching can also be associated with the fabric your running clothes are made from. Certain fabrics can be itchy and irritating to your skin, or may trap in heat and moisture, causing itching to occur. Common fabric culprits include wool or synthetic fabrics. Changing your workout clothing to breathable fabrics, such as cotton, can help reduce irritation along with the itching that comes with it.
Detergents and Softeners
Even if you choose the right fabrics for running clothes, itching can still occur if you have skin that is sensitive to the ingredients of your detergent or fabric softener. Like other allergens, these products can irritate the skin, activating histamine which creates itching. Changing your clothes-washing products to ones that are hypoallergenic and fragrance free may help reduce problems with itching.
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