Flushed abdominal skin after running is not an uncommon symptom and is rarely a cause for medical concern. Flushed skin after running usually results from weather conditions, allergic reactions or minor skin problems. Most of the time, flushed abdominal skin after running is preventable or treatable with changes in your exercise habits, home care measures or medical treatment.
Causes
Running outdoors in hot weather leads to heat rash in some people, leaving the skin appearing flushed, red and itchy. If you run without wearing a shirt, exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun can sometimes cause polymorphous light eruption, leading to a flushed appearance to the skin along with small itchy red spots. Sunburn is another cause of flushed skin that develops after running without a shirt. An allergic reaction to chemicals used to launder your clothing or hygiene products, such as perfumed soaps, is another cause of flushed abdominal skin after running. Folliculitis, or inflammation of hair follicles, reactions to medications or exposure to poison ivy or oak while running can also lead to flushed abdominal skin.
Home Treatments
Placing cool compresses, such as a cold washcloth, across your abdomen helps treat flushed skin after running. Showering immediately after running helps reduce flushing and removes sweat and oils from plants, such as poison ivy, from your skin. Taking a cool bath several times a day also helps reduce flushing and related symptoms such as itching and pain. Furthermore, adding baking soda or oatmeal to the bathwater also helps soothe flushed and irritated skin.
Medical Treatments
MayoClinic.com advises that you apply a hydrocortisone cream or an ointment, such as calamine lotion, to treat flushed abdominal skin resulting from heat rash. Over-the-counter ointments containing menthol or camphor also reduce flushing and itching. Over-the-counter antihistamines treat flushed abdominal skin caused by allergic reactions to chemicals and triggers, such as poison ivy or pollen. Flushing accompanied by severe itchiness, swelling or hives usually requires medical treatment and prescription medications, like oral corticosteroids and antihistamines, to reduce the itching and redness.
Prevention
Wearing sunscreen when running outdoors helps prevent flushed skin that results from ultraviolet light exposure. In addition, wearing loose cotton shirts and shorts rather than tight fitting man-made fibers, such as spandex, allows your skin to breathe and moisture from sweat to evaporate, preventing flushed skin due to allergies to clothing fibers and skin conditions such as folliculitis. Avoiding running in areas ridden with poison ivy or oak, or apply skin protection products available in pharmacies before running in these areas to prevent flushed abdominal skin.
