Runner's Itch: Causes And Treatments - Healthline

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How to Stop Runner’s Itch from Ruining Your Workout

Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP — Written by Emily Cronkleton on February 9, 2021

Causes
Will it go away?
Home remedies
Prevention
Takeaway

Runner’s itch refers to a sensation and symptoms that appear on the stomach and legs while working out. Prevention methods may include having a consistent running routine or keeping a nutrition journal.

Usually, runner’s itch isn’t a cause for concern, and prevention and treatment is simple. Cases that involve severe symptoms may require specific treatment.

Read on to take a look at the causes of runner’s itch and ways to treat and prevent it.

What causes it?

There are several causes of runner’s itch. We’ll talk through what could be happening in your body to cause this itchy sensation.

Increased blood flow

If you’ve been sedentary or haven’t exercised in a while, returning to your running routine can lead to itchiness.

Running increases your heart rate and blood flow as your heart delivers more blood and oxygen to the targeted muscles. This causes your capillaries and arteries to expand and stimulates your nerve cells, which can lead to an itchy sensation.

Histamine release

According to a 2017 research review, exercise may promote the release of histamine to prevent fatigue instead of as an allergic reaction. Histamine causes your blood vessels to expand, which contributes to the itchy sensation.

Sensitive skin

You may be especially prone to runner’s itch if you have sensitive skin. Allergies to certain laundry detergents, fabric softeners, or clothing material can cause itchiness. The combination of sweating and dry skin can worsen the irritation.

Use laundry products made for sensitive skin, and buy workout clothing made of moisture-wicking fabrics to limit sweaty skin. To combat dry skin, apply moisturizer before you run.

Exercise-induced urticaria

Exercise-induced urticaria is an allergic response that occurs when you experience itchiness along with hives or redness of the skin.

Additional symptoms can include:

stomach cramps
headache
difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, tongue, or hands

Exercise-induced urticaria occurs during or after strenuous exercise, such as running or hiking, especially when you do these activities in hot or cold weather.

Exercise-induced vasculitis

Exercise-induced vasculitis is also known as golfer’s vasculitis or hiker’s rash. Sometimes it’s called the Disney rash since it often involves being physically active and exposed to sunlight on a hot day, which is common at Disney amusement parks.

This inflammatory condition involves red patches, purple spots, and swelling on the thighs and lower legs. The itchy rash is accompanied by intense stinging, pain, and burning.

Genetics may make you more prone to exercise-induced vasculitis. Usually, symptoms resolve on their own within a matter of days.

Exercise-induced purpura

Exercise-induced purpura occurs in people who run marathons, take long walks, or engage in unusual physical activity. It’s especially common during hot weather in the mountains.

This condition causes blood spots to occur on the lower legs. It usually doesn’t affect skin that’s compressed by socks, though.

In most cases, the sores heal within a few days.

Other possible causes

Other possible causes of runner’s itch include:

food allergies
alcoholic drinks
medications, including aspirin
other allergic reactions

Will it go away?

While runner’s itch is uncomfortable, most of the time it’s not a cause for concern.

Developing a consistent exercise routine is the best way to prevent runner’s itch and reduce its intensity. Usually, as your body gets used to exercising again, the itching subsides.

Slow down, take a break, or stop exercising as soon as your symptoms begin. If you have a severe case of runner’s itch that doesn’t get better with treatment, you may need to stop exercising altogether, especially during warm weather.

Home remedies

To relieve itchy legs, try these home remedies:

Take a warm bath with oatmeal, Epsom salts, or baking soda.
Apply aloe vera gel, hydrocortisone cream, or a cold compress to the itchy area.
To improve leg circulation, wear compression stockings and elevate your legs for 15 minutes at a time a few times per day.

Talk with your healthcare provider if itchiness is accompanied by:

dizziness
lightheadedness
difficulty breathing
hives that occur along with severe stinging, pain, or burning and don’t subside within 10 minutes

Your doctor can perform allergy and exercise tests to determine the cause.

How to prevent it

While you may not be able to prevent runner’s itch completely, you can reduce outbreaks.

Running regularly is the best way to prevent runner’s itch. A consistent running routine increases your blood volume, which means your body won’t have to increase blood flow as much. Plus, your body will be used to the increased blood flow when it does occur.

Use a journal to track any foods or drinks that may contribute to runner’s itch so you can observe how your body reacts. You may need to avoid certain foods or drinks altogether or consume them several hours before you exercise.

Severe cases may require a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen). To prevent symptoms from becoming life threatening, you inject this medication as soon as symptoms develop.

Additional ways to prevent runner’s itch include:

taking nondrowsy antihistamines
wearing workout clothing suited to hot or cold weather
using numbing spray
taking baths and showers with cool or warm water instead of hot water
avoiding excessive sun exposure
exercising during the coolest part of the day

The bottom line

Usually, runner’s itch is a mild occurrence and isn’t anything to worry about. You can prevent runner’s itch by running regularly, taking antihistamines, and avoiding triggers including certain foods and drinks.

Slow down or take a break if you experience runner’s itch. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms are severe or don’t improve with treatment.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Exercise-induced urticaria. (2020).https://familydoctor.org/condition/exercise-induced-urticaria/
Jud P, et al. (2018). Exercise-induced vasculitis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5828891/
Kounis NG, et al. (2016). Exercise-induced urticaria, cholinergic urticaria, and Kounis syndrome.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4831493/
Luttrell MJ, et al. (2017). The intriguing role of histamine in exercise responses.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5161583/
Ramelet AA. (2004). Exercise-induced purpura.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15178910/
Stevens JC. (2019). BOD-ities: Why do my legs itch when I exercise?https://www.mainlinehealth.org/blog/2019/05/06/bodities-itching-exercise
Wu B. (2015). Exercise-induced vasculitis.https://dermnetnz.org/topics/exercise-induced-vasculitis/

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Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP — Written by Emily Cronkleton on February 9, 2021

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