I started running again about 6 weeks ago. Every day I'd start off with a positive attitude and a sporty gait, and after about ten minutes my skin would start itching to the point of madness. I've read some forum stories of women ripping their skin open in an attempt to ease the discomfort.
It turns out that the itchiness is usually caused by the capillaries expanding upon the introduction of blood to the surface of the skin. That is hot blood moving into the cold and contracted surface of the skin. Some people don't notice it at all, and others can have a lot of problems with pain.
I read some of the online advice and decided against an antihistamine 30 minutes before my jog, or just putting up with it. I thought about the problem and decided that if it was a hot and cold problem, if I started jogging when I was already warm, the problem might be avoided.
A Warm/Hot Bath!
So, before I've been jogging, I've taken a hot bath for ten minutes and I then massage my legs and 'scrub' them with ex foliating gloves. This stimulates the skin and makes the blood flow to the surface. I then don my normal jogging attire and I have had no problem since. Nothing. Nada. No discomfort.
Now its just a matter of lung capacity, and that I am working on.
Photo: Granollers Half Marathon 2009, Tiffany Jones
1 comment:
I'm just catching up on blog reading and ran across this one - what a great idea! I love how you came up with your own solution.
I've not experienced that problem but cannot imagine how distressing it would be to experience it. Hey, what a great excuse to take a warm bath! :)(Congrats on the running)
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