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! (< 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 )

    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.
  • Quote: 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...