Does Anybody Know What This Is?

Indigoblu1

chazza55 wrote: »

no guarantees this is what you are talking about but my brother used to get something called "prickly heat" when he went to the gym: http://www.webmd.boots.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/prickly-heat-rash

Hi, chazza, no, I'm certain it isn't prickly heat because it goes away just as soon as I cool off. The minute it's exposed to a fan or A/C, it's gone.

peachyfuzzle

I think I know exactly what you're talking about, and it doesn't sound like anything anyone has suggested so far. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is, but I am affected by it also. It typically happens to me on the back of my neck, or on the scalp.

Is it like the pins/needles sensation you get when your foot falls asleep, but combined with an itch more intense than you've ever felt any other time in your life?

I get this when I overheat outdoors in the summer, and it makes me immediately stop whatever I'm doing in order to scratch the ever loving crap out of myself until it goes away, or I cool down enough. It sounds closest to prickly heat rash, but I don't personally get any raised bumps, or anything like that. I only get the sensation of a thousand pins jabbing into my skin with the itch.

Indigoblu1

peachyfuzzle wrote: »

I think I know exactly what you're talking about, and it doesn't sound like anything anyone has suggested so far. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is, but I am affected by it also. It typically happens to me on the back of my neck, or on the scalp.

Is it like the pins/needles sensation you get when your foot falls asleep, but combined with an itch more intense than you've ever felt any other time in your life?

I get this when I overheat outdoors in the summer, and it makes me immediately stop whatever I'm doing in order to scratch the ever loving crap out of myself until it goes away, or I cool down enough. It sounds closest to prickly heat rash, but I don't personally get any raised bumps, or anything like that. I only get the sensation of a thousand pins jabbing into my skin with the itch.

peachfuzzle, Yesssss! Exactly like those pins and needles, extreme, intense itchiness - it hurts like hell! And itching it in the heat does nothing but make it worse, but you can't help but itch it. I don't get raised bumps at all, either. Yes, thousands of pins jabbing in my skin - perfect way to describe it.

julielh72

I once had it so badly that I felt like I wanted to rip the skin off my thighs....it's torture!

peachyfuzzle

Indigoblu1 wrote: »

peachyfuzzle wrote: »

I think I know exactly what you're talking about, and it doesn't sound like anything anyone has suggested so far. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is, but I am affected by it also. It typically happens to me on the back of my neck, or on the scalp.

Is it like the pins/needles sensation you get when your foot falls asleep, but combined with an itch more intense than you've ever felt any other time in your life?

I get this when I overheat outdoors in the summer, and it makes me immediately stop whatever I'm doing in order to scratch the ever loving crap out of myself until it goes away, or I cool down enough. It sounds closest to prickly heat rash, but I don't personally get any raised bumps, or anything like that. I only get the sensation of a thousand pins jabbing into my skin with the itch.

peachfuzzle, Yesssss! Exactly like those pins and needles, extreme, intense itchiness - it hurts like hell! And itching it in the heat does nothing but make it worse, but you can't help but itch it. I don't get raised bumps at all, either. Yes, thousands of pins jabbing in my skin - perfect way to describe it.

Well, I might not know what it is, but at least you're not alone.

JoRocka

Indigoblu1 wrote: »

Cherimoose wrote: »

Sounds like something called cholinergic urticaria - basically allergic to exercise.
Do you take aspirin? That can make it worse.

Holy crap, Cherimoose! That sounds just like it, only mine ends as soon as I get cooled off. So, when it happens, if I'm in a place to pull off the clothes and stand by a fan or in AC for a few minutes, it goes away immediately. The areas are red like a rash, but there are no welts, etc. at all.

I get like that- but it's usually when I haven't worked out in a while- my doctor actually told me to start taking zurtec before working out- but I think mine was more of a circulation issue- mine also starts in the large muscle groups- if it gets really bad it creeps into my quads and into my stomach- I sat down one time and almost cried it itched so bad. It's really uncomfortable.

My best solution has been to continue to work out- sometimes I can push through- sometimes I can't. But - across the board- the more I work out- the less it bothers me (to the point where it's a rarity.)

Good luck- I'd definitely see your doctor if you aren't getting any relief!

Indigoblu1

julielh72 wrote: »

I once had it so badly that I felt like I wanted to rip the skin off my thighs....it's torture!

julielh, I can't help but laugh, because I was going to say that it makes me want to rip the skin on my rear end off, but I held back!

socalkay

Try loose cotton instead of tight spandex.

Try a quick shower before working out to remove lotions, perfumes, etc. from your skin.

Indigoblu1

socalkay wrote: »

Try loose cotton instead of tight spandex.

Try a quick shower before working out to remove lotions, perfumes, etc. from your skin.

Yes, socalkay, I am thinking that a large majority of this comes from the spandex that I was wearing and the tight jeans walking in the heat.