Arms itching and red after barbell squats?!

Maybe_7

Hi guys,

for the last two times I've trainded legs (last week and today) I had a weird itchy feeling in my upper arms after doing barbell squats and my arms looked kinda red and blotchy. It went away after a few minutes, but I'm still wondering what it is. I've been working out for years, been doing squats for two years or so. The weight was a little more than my bodyweight, but I have done heavier squats a few months ago without any problems. It didn't happen during any of my other leg exercises and it also doesn't happen on my other training days (back+biceps / chest+shoulders+triceps). Like I said, it's not a rash, it went away right after.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

Cherimoose

No idea. Do you take any new supplements or foods?

dbmata

Did you clean the bar off prior to squatting?

Sam_I_Am77

Did you clean the bar off prior to squatting?

That's what I was thinking. Somebody cleaned the bar or something and you reacted to the cleaning agent.

jmc0806

sounds like someone used chalk or something on the bar that you reacted to

MaeRay007

Are you taking a new preworkout or more than normal?

giggitygoo

I'm allergic to the standard cleaning wipes my gym has. I get a very similar reaction. My solutions are to wear long sleeve and gloves, or bring my own wipes.

I have skin allergies, and it's worth it to not be uncomfortable

EDIT: saw that you said it went away quickly. I'm stumped.

giggitygoo

Oh I thought of something else!

Are you getting the bar low enough on your traps? If it's too high, it can hit a nerve right in top of your shoulder. Makes my fingers go numb and prickly. I've since corrected my form and it's gone.

Maybe_7

Hi guys, thank you very much for your replies. I don't think it is a allergic reaction to cleaning wipes or anything, because it went away right after.

I do take creatine at the moment, but I don't really see how that would have anything to do with it.

It might be the bar hitting a nerve or the blood supply of my arms being limited while doing the squats and then the blood rushing back it after I put the bar down.

mikevandewetering

It could be that you were squeezing the bar to hard. Together with pressure on you shoulders/traps it could be that you didn't had enough blood flow to your arms

junlex123

Hi guys, thank you very much for your replies. I don't think it is a allergic reaction to cleaning wipes or anything, because it went away right after.

I do take creatine at the moment, but I don't really see how that would have anything to do with it.

It might be the bar hitting a nerve or the blood supply of my arms being limited while doing the squats and then the blood rushing back it after I put the bar down.

Creatine supplementation gives me hives personally which sounds somewhat similar to what you experienced. It's a known potential side-effect. Bit odd given it's found in the body anyway, but presumably some people show allergic symptoms past a certain concentration. So it could be that.

luce3003

Glad you have mentioned this as I have noticed that I get itchy arms after squatting too!!
It's not where the bar touches me (and I sometimes use my sweat towel as a cushion too) so don't think i'm allergic to chalk/cleaning products but maybe the trapped nerve/reduced blood flow has something to do with it...?!
My arms tend to itch between my shoulder and elbow on the 'outside' edge and sometimes look a little blotchy - is your problem in the same place?

Xxx

Doc_V

I get it when I'm working out and have increased blood flow to a muscle group that's not used to it. Combined with the sweat, it causes that weird itching with a reticular rash that resolves pretty quickly. My quads are the worst for it, especially if I've taken some time off running. For me it tends to go away if I try to keep dry and stretch well before and after.

Maybe_7

@luce3003 Yes, there and also on the inside of the arms.