After Swim itching/prickles

kevhill

Does anyone else get itching/prickles on the day after swimming? If so done anything or recommendations to solve it?

Basically the day after I swim when I start my run or ride, for the first 10 minutes or so I get very itchy legs, shoulders and arms. Is like being pricked with needles sort of itchy. I think is something to do with sweat pores opening or something?  After about 15 minutes or so goes away but that first start is really annoying - like having to stop and itch every minute or so.

Any advice appreciated.

Brad Marcus

Kevin - I had something similar over the winter. For me, I'm pretty sure it was caused by a combination of dry winter skin and the un-godly amounts of chlorine and other chemicals they dumped in the pool I swam in. Even after a shower, my skin would smell strongly of chlorine all day. It got pretty bad and I finally was using a heavy moisturizer on my legs and other areas affected daily to make it a little better, but it still was not great. Recently I changed pool venues and I must say that where I am swimming now uses a different system and I cannot sense the same amount of chemicals in the pool and this has made a huge difference.

Brenda Ross

Here is what has worked for me. I shower and wash with the soap in the shower before I go into the water (supposedly the chlorine reacts with lotions, sweat etc... on our skin) and then I do the same when I get out and then put some body lotion on. Works like a charm. I swear.

Darren Freeman

For the last year after I complete most workouts I get slightly itchy red spots on me and in some cases almost welts like I've been bitten by tons of mosquitoes. I'm sure it is some kind of contact dermatitis but I don't know the source. I've switch to clear and free laundry detergent and dish soap, stopped using fabric softener and liquid foaming hand soap and now us Dove at home. Taking a really hot shower seems to help but doesn't kill it completely and I shower as soon as I can after every workout but it isn't 100%. I've had it happen when I was sitting in my office at work. Definitely a immune reaction or allergy to something.

For me I'm thinking it has something to do with synthetic clothing material like tech shirts and running shorts (not nearly as frequent or severe with cotton) as that is the one thing I'm most often wearing when I have it break out. The other possibility is I live in an apartment complex and think my sports clothing is picking stuff up from the community washer and driers.

The one sure way to squash the reaction is to take a Benadryl tablet and within an hour the itching and spots are usually gone.

I'm actually seeing a dermatologist today to see if there is anything specific that they can pin it to.

Darren Freeman

So, I saw the dermatologist today and he said it appears that I have a case of hives which are characterized as below on WebMD. He also said typically hives goes away on their own within a few to 24 hours but can be much more severe and potentially very dangerous. In my case they go away in a couple hours. He recommended to try and pre-dose with antihistamines (Claritin, Allegra or Zyrtec) before working out to see how that impacts their development instead of dosing after the outbreak occurs.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/hives-urticaria-angioedema

He gave me the name of a allergist so they can start doing a battery of testing to try and find out what is the trigger. He was pretty insistent about seeing the allergist because he was telling me about another patient who was a high school student who would have difficulty breathing after his soccer matches because of the hives outbreak. Basically he was saying they can develop to the point of being life threatening if not treated. So, off to the allergist I go!

@Kevin, sounds like you have hives as well but mine is more persistent as it happens every time I do my workouts and has been occurring for nearly a year although more worse recently. Although the cause can be completely different you should consider seeing an allergist as well just to be safe.

kevhill

Thanks all for the advice and comments.

@Darren, I don't get any lumps or anything showing on the skin, and only lasts 15 minutes tops. In any case will check with the Doc next time I am there, good luck with the allergist visit.

@Brenda - cheers will give that a try tonight and see how ride goes early tomorrow morning.

Cheers