Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesManaging the ItchFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes

Managing the Itch

Frequently Asked Questions

This article discusses various causes of itchy muscles and how to treat this symptom.

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Young man scratching his forearm.

What Causes Itchy Muscles?

Itchy muscles can occur with exercise, as a symptom of a medical condition, or from other causes, such as side effects of medication.

Exercise

Itchy muscles are a common side effect of exercise. This sensation typically affects the muscles being used during the activity. For example, “runner’s itch” is a term that describes the itchy sensation in the legs that often occurs after running.

However, histamine also initiates the allergic reaction that occurs when you encounter an allergen—anything your body identifies as “foreign”—even if it is harmless. For some people, exercise can cause an allergic reaction.

Exercise-induced urticaria is a condition that occurs when exercise triggers an allergic response. In addition to an itching sensation, other symptoms can include:

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a rare condition that occurs when exercise triggers a serious allergic reaction.During exercise, symptoms can progress to a severe shortness of breath, wheezing, and a loss of consciousness.This situation requires immediate medical attention.

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a rare condition that occurs when exercise triggers a serious allergic reaction.

During exercise, symptoms can progress to a severe shortness of breath, wheezing, and a loss of consciousness.This situation requires immediate medical attention.

Itchy muscles from exercise might not need treatment. In most cases, the uncomfortable sensation subsides as you recover from activity.

Your healthcare provider might also prescribe an injectable medication called epinephrine to be used during a serious allergic reaction.

Neuropathic Itch

Neuropathic itch can occur with conditions such as:

Neuropathic itch is difficult to treat, and there are no research-backed effective treatments. Some people report improvement with use of over-the-counter capsaicin patches or Gralise (gabapentin).

Compounds called cannabinoids—produced from the cannabis plant—might also be beneficial in treating neuropathic itch, but more research is needed in this area.

In many cases, neuropathic itch leads to scratching, but unfortunately, this does not relieve the itch. Instead, repeated scratching can cause damage to the skin, leading to wounds and infection.

Other Causes of Muscle Itch

Muscle itching can be a side effect of medications. Examples include aspirin, blood pressure medication, and opioids.If symptoms are severe, medications might need to be replaced.

Internal itching sensations can also occur during pregnancy. A condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) can develop when bile builds up in the liver.In addition to itching, this condition can cause digestive issues and difficulty sleeping. ICP resolves on its own after childbirth.

Home remedies can help decrease the sensation of itchy muscles—especially if the underlying cause can’t be effectively treated.

Summary

Itchy muscles are a common symptom. Itchiness can occur during or after exercise, due to increased blood flow to working muscles.

This symptom can also be a sign of underlying medical conditions that affect the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis or shingles. In some cases, itchy muscles occur with pregnancy or as a side effect of medication.

Treatment for internal itching sensations depends on the specific cause. In some cases, there is no treatment, but distraction techniques can help.

A Word From Verywell

Itchy muscles are common and usually not a cause for worry. However, if you notice that you’re experiencing this symptom frequently—particularly if it isn’t during or after exercise—talk to your healthcare provider.

The formal word for itching is “pruritus.” Itchy leg muscles after exercise are sometimes referred to as “runner’s itch.”

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Luttrell MJ, Halliwill JR.The intriguing role of histamine in exercise responses.Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2017;45(1):16-23. doi:10.1249%2FJES.0000000000000093American Academy of Family Physicians.Exercise-induced urticaria.Barg W, Medrala W, Wolanczyk-Medrala A.Exercise-induced anaphylaxis: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2011;11(1):45-51. doi:10.1007%2Fs11882-010-0150-yMeixiong J, Dong X, Weng HJ.Neuropathic itch.Cells. 2020;9(10):2263. doi:10.3390%2Fcells9102263Oaklander AL.Neuropathic itch.Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2011;30(2):87-92. doi:10.1016%2Fj.sder.2011.04.006Hachisuka J, Chiang MC, Ross SE.Itch and neuropathic itch.Pain. 2018;159(3):603-609. doi:10.1097%2Fj.pain.0000000000001141Morin CB, Raef HS, Elmariah SB.Neuropathic itch treated with oral cannabinoids: A case series.JAAD Case Rep. 2021;17:38-42. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jdcr.2021.09.006American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Luttrell MJ, Halliwill JR.The intriguing role of histamine in exercise responses.Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2017;45(1):16-23. doi:10.1249%2FJES.0000000000000093American Academy of Family Physicians.Exercise-induced urticaria.Barg W, Medrala W, Wolanczyk-Medrala A.Exercise-induced anaphylaxis: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2011;11(1):45-51. doi:10.1007%2Fs11882-010-0150-yMeixiong J, Dong X, Weng HJ.Neuropathic itch.Cells. 2020;9(10):2263. doi:10.3390%2Fcells9102263Oaklander AL.Neuropathic itch.Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2011;30(2):87-92. doi:10.1016%2Fj.sder.2011.04.006Hachisuka J, Chiang MC, Ross SE.Itch and neuropathic itch.Pain. 2018;159(3):603-609. doi:10.1097%2Fj.pain.0000000000001141Morin CB, Raef HS, Elmariah SB.Neuropathic itch treated with oral cannabinoids: A case series.JAAD Case Rep. 2021;17:38-42. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jdcr.2021.09.006American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Luttrell MJ, Halliwill JR.The intriguing role of histamine in exercise responses.Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2017;45(1):16-23. doi:10.1249%2FJES.0000000000000093American Academy of Family Physicians.Exercise-induced urticaria.Barg W, Medrala W, Wolanczyk-Medrala A.Exercise-induced anaphylaxis: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2011;11(1):45-51. doi:10.1007%2Fs11882-010-0150-yMeixiong J, Dong X, Weng HJ.Neuropathic itch.Cells. 2020;9(10):2263. doi:10.3390%2Fcells9102263Oaklander AL.Neuropathic itch.Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2011;30(2):87-92. doi:10.1016%2Fj.sder.2011.04.006Hachisuka J, Chiang MC, Ross SE.Itch and neuropathic itch.Pain. 2018;159(3):603-609. doi:10.1097%2Fj.pain.0000000000001141Morin CB, Raef HS, Elmariah SB.Neuropathic itch treated with oral cannabinoids: A case series.JAAD Case Rep. 2021;17:38-42. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jdcr.2021.09.006American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Luttrell MJ, Halliwill JR.The intriguing role of histamine in exercise responses.Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2017;45(1):16-23. doi:10.1249%2FJES.0000000000000093

American Academy of Family Physicians.Exercise-induced urticaria.

Barg W, Medrala W, Wolanczyk-Medrala A.Exercise-induced anaphylaxis: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2011;11(1):45-51. doi:10.1007%2Fs11882-010-0150-y

Meixiong J, Dong X, Weng HJ.Neuropathic itch.Cells. 2020;9(10):2263. doi:10.3390%2Fcells9102263

Oaklander AL.Neuropathic itch.Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2011;30(2):87-92. doi:10.1016%2Fj.sder.2011.04.006

Hachisuka J, Chiang MC, Ross SE.Itch and neuropathic itch.Pain. 2018;159(3):603-609. doi:10.1097%2Fj.pain.0000000000001141

Morin CB, Raef HS, Elmariah SB.Neuropathic itch treated with oral cannabinoids: A case series.JAAD Case Rep. 2021;17:38-42. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jdcr.2021.09.006

American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 reasons your skin itches uncontrollably and how to get relief.

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

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