Exercise! - weird reaction to exercise

Whenever I do cardio, my scalp and face start getting really itchy. I feel kind of embarrassed at the gym because I constantly have to scratch all of these little itches on my scalp and face, I am afraid people will think I have something wrong with me.

It has been happening for a while. To the best of my knowledge I don't have a new shampoo/gel/lotion of any sort and it happens in all locations that I exercise so I don't think that it is an allergic reaction.

Any ideas what this could be caused by? Or am I just weird?

Sometimes my scalp will itch when I sweat a lot- I'm not trying to be offensive but for me I'm like blah I must be need a shower cuz my scalp isn't clean! Not saying you aren't clean but I find if I haven't washed my hair in a over a day I'll be more likely to feel itchy.

I have this same problem! I itch right at my hair line on my forehead and at the back of my neck. I'm afraid people are going to think I have lice! Maybe someone on here will have some advice or at least a reason why! Just know you are not alone!

maybe sweat+make up? i dont know... maybe just sweat.... i would try different shampoo (head adn sholders)

thanks to all who replied.

beerab- no worries, it wasn't an offensive suggestion. I can see how a dirty scalp might lead to itching; however, I don't think that is a possibility for me ( I am quite obsessive about washing my hair everyday because it is naturally oily).

oh well, I guess I will just try a couple of different things (a new shampoo maybe) and hope that the problem goes away. Until then I will just continue to be the weird itchy girl in the gym, haha! :chin: (< he looks kinda itchy, haha)

Hmmm could be sweat or it could be psychosomatic. Like my nose always itches when I have my hand full of bags. :P

I have the same reaction! (Allergic to exercise? hmmm :shrug:)

For me, it is absolutely related to sweating, which always bothers my annoyingly sensitive skin. If I am doing strength training stuff, the itching rarely commences. But it happens when I'm doing cardio every time.

I hope you find something that helps you out. I think I am stuck with the itchies!

it could just be your sweat-i know my head gets itchy when i excercise, and i also have naturally oily hair-maybe that has something to do with it?

speaking of psychosomatic-my feet/ankles itch when im washing dishes...

That's why I don't do dishes...Hahaha!!!
Anyways, this happened to me when I started hot yoga. I think it was an issue of sweating through the pores on my scalp followed by sweat trickling through my hair. Itched like crazy. I ignored it. It doesn't bother me anymore even though I still sweat this way. If I scratch, though, when it itches, it only makes it worse, so I really focus on ignoring it...
I'd be worried if I was getting a red rash or bumps, which would indicate some sort of allergy...

I think maybe more blood flow could cause itchiness.

it could just be your sweat-i know my head gets itchy when i excercise, and i also have naturally oily hair-maybe that has something to do with it?

speaking of psychosomatic-my feet/ankles itch when im washing dishes...

lol me too! I am always saying when it happens, "Mind over matter, mind over matter..." lol

I get really red blotchy skin on my face and arms when I sweat a lot from exercising.

It's just your blood circulating to that area. Blood is pumping through all of your body. And it's in combination with sweat too. I noticed that in PE class in middle school with my head and legs which got really itchy and that's what my PE teacher told me.

Sometimes when you sweat alot for a really long time, running long distances and that sort of thing, there's a white sort of film that develops on your skin, I believe it's the salt from your sweat, it can be itchy or irritate sensitive skin. I get it all the time on my long runs.

I get the sweaty scalp and I've heard it's the salt from the sweat also...