Exercise urticaria
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Exercise urticaria is a form of urticaria (skin rash) that happens during or after exercise, e.g. jogging or running. Urticaria is an allergic reaction in the skin characterized by itching -- as well as possible rash, swelling or hives -- on the legs, arms, torso or neck. Exercise urticaria is also referred to as exercise allergy, itchy legs, itchy legs syndrome or runners itch.
Exercise urticaria is unrelated to itchy pants syndrome where the skin reacts to certain types of clothing.
It is also unrelated to one's age, general health or physical condition. Even people in excellent health and who exercise regularly can suffer from it. Some people have experienced it their entire lives while others only develop it later in life; people also tend to be more sedentary as they age.
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[edit] Treatment
The quickest form of treatment is the use of an antihistamine before exercise. You can also reduce the intensity of your workout.
The long-term treatment seems to be very regular exercise, i.e., every day or two.
[edit] Related forms of urticaria
Cholinergic urticaria is a form of urticaria which is triggered by a change in body temperature and can have very severe symptoms, including anaphylaxis. It is sometimes confused with exercise urticaria because it can occur during exercise and sweating, but the actual precipitating cause is increased body temperature. You should see a doctor if your symptoms are more than just itching.
[edit] Contrary discussion
Some online medical journals have published articles where cholinergic urticaria is described as sweat-induced (rather than temperature) which would make it the same diagnosis as exercise urticaria rather than a related one.
