Dermatologist Warns Your Leggings Could Cause Hives and Inflammation
Here's how those tight yoga pants can wreak havoc on your skin.
Whether you’re working out or running errands, leggings are considered a throw-on-and-go staple for a reason. They’re flattering, comfy, and easy to style. However, they also have a secret side that isn’t so pretty. Dermatologist Daniel Sugai, MD, who runs the famous TikTok account DrSpf, revealed how your leggings might be wreaking havoc on your skin and hair follicles. If you’ve noticed itchy skin or red bumps on your legs, it’s time to get educated.
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Leggings can trigger allergic skin reactions, according to a dermatologist.
“I see a lot of patients that get itchiness with tight clothing,” shared Sugai. He explained in the video that heat can “vasodilate the vessels in your legs, bringing in more histamine and inflammatory markers that can cause itch of the legs.”
Your immune system releases a chemical called histamine at the sign of an allergic reaction. There are four types of histamine receptors, but H1 receptors are known to expand blood vessels, increase heart rate, cause pain, and trigger itchy skin, per Cleveland Clinic.
Other times, your leggings may be causing itchy skin due to pressure. “The frictional rubbing can stimulate and irritate the epidermal nerves, causing itch as well,” said Sugai.
Research shows that the epidermis is made up of both somatic and autonomic nerves. The former transmits pain, temperature, vibration, pressure, and bodily sensations to the central nervous system, while autonomic nerves are responsible for sweating and raised hair follicles (A.K.A. goosebumps). When these nerves are activated, you may experience painful, itchy skin.
“Sometimes the leggings can be so tight, it can induce hives,” according to Sugai. This is called pressure urticaria. But in more advanced cases, you may develop cholinergic urticaria, which is when your leggings induce heat and sweat.
Both skin conditions vary in appearance. Pressure urticaria manifests as itchy, inflamed welts, whereas cholinergic urticaria “can just be little red bumps on the legs that are very itchy,” said Sugai.
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Bringing a change of post-workout clothes can help.
Ideally, you would peel off your sweaty clothes and hop in the shower right after you hit the gym. But if you’re grabbing brunch or have errands to run, it would benefit you to bring hygiene wipes and a fresh change of clothes.
“People always used to shower after workouts, but now, due to the rise of athleisure clothing, they’re wearing their workout clothes a lot longer than intended,” Lauren Ploch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Skin Cancer Center and Georgia Dermatology, told Today.com.
Additionally, your leggings should always go in the hamper after every workout unless you focused on exercises that didn’t push you to sweat.
What to do if the itching and pain persist:
If your favorite pair of leggings is consistently causing you to break out in hives and itchy skin, it’s time to see a dermatologist for help.
“A lot of times, people just do well with taking a non-sedating antihistamine like Zrytec or Cetirizine before working out in their leggings. But again, this is not medical advice. See your dermatologist when in doubt,” advised Sugai.
