Allergic Sensation

Every once a while I will get this itchy sensation all over myself from the top of my head (literally) to my ankles. It's difficult to describe. Certain areas of me become irresistibly itchy, like if you ever had the chicken pox, and those areas become sensitive to touch so it's painful to scratch. If I do scratch then the inch continues so I use my will power and I don't scratch.

What happens when I don't scratch? Those parts that felt itchy turn blotchy and red like if I did scratch it. Then both of my legs become tingly in a excruciating way. Like if your foot falls asleep because you have been sitting on it, except instead of the part where it hurts when you take a step, it's just that needle feeling multiplied. Both legs, from the thighs to the ankles.

The amount of time it lasts varies. A couple minutes, sometimes a minute or two longer than those couple minutes depending if I scratched or not. Usually last longer if I don't scratch.

It happens when I workout or the temperature of my body changes (lowering or higher). Like I could be jogging, I get this itch feeling on the upper portion of my back (where it always starts, to my knowledge) and then it happens. Lately it's been happening when I shower as well. I would use moderately hot water the whole time and then I like to stand in cool water for a minute when I'm done and then it will happen. Nothing new, been doing that for years.

The spots that get the itch are: the top of my head, top of my back, chest, way lower back, thighs, arms, and in front of ankles. Top of back and chest are the areas that get blotchy and red. Could be the top of my head as well, can't really see there. The red area usually last for about 5 minutes then goes back to normal. No bumps either.

Been happening for about a month now and I'm not doing anything new, climate's been about the same during the time, no stress... 18 years old and male if that helps at all.

Any ideas?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Two possibilities are there.It can be exercise urticaria or sweat dermatitis.

If your body is itchy during or after exercise, with no relation to heat, you may have exercise urticaria.In such cases, antihistaminics and not exercising on warm or humid days may help.

You may apply calamine lotion and cool compresses on the skin. It may help. You may also take some OTC  antihistaminic like benadryl or Claritin. You should stop exercising as soon as you notice the hives. If the hives don't go away in 5 to 10 minutes, or if you have other symptoms, call your doctor right away. It can be Exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

If the symptoms persist then pls consult a neurologist as brachioradial pruritis has to be ruled out then.

Hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.