Thighs Suddenly Itch Like Crazy and Then Itch Quickly Disappears

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   melbelposted 12 years ago

   Last summer, I was walking on the beach with my friend wearing blue jeans an all of a sudden I started itching like crazy. The itch was so horrible that I seriously wanted to just take off my pants right then and there and start scratching. We ran all the way back to the house and I locked myself in the bathroom and slathered calamine all over myself. It was so itchy that it was embarrassing! Then, as quickly as the itch came, it left.
   
   I blamed that situation on perhaps I was allergic to some plant at the beach or something. (There's a lot of beach grass around here and it's known for being home to lots of bugs.)
   
   However, tonight it happened again... a sudden itch while I was walking in the grocery store that was so bad that I had to go to the store bathroom and figure it out. It wasn't just a little itchy... I'm talking I thought I was having an allergic reaction.
   
   Here are the factors that are in common between the situations:
   The itch happens VERY suddenly and then after 10-20 minutes of my suffering, it goes away very quickly.
   I was walking around when the itch started.
   I was sitting when the itch stopped.
   I was wearing kind of tight blue jeans.
   The itch ONLY occurs on my upper part of my leg... front, sides, and back of both legs.
   The inner part of my legs feel extremely warm when it happens.
   It's a VERY bad itch.
   My legs are beat red, but no bumps of any kind.
   
   It can't be sweat mixing with detergent because our launderette uses hypoallergenic stuff. I do think it has something to do with my sweat though, because I remember when I was at the beach I was sweating because my pants were so damn tight and then tonight my pants were on the tight side.
   
   Anyone have anything like this happen to them? Do you know what could be the cause of this?

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      brittanytoddposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I used to have heat rashes on the back of my neck because my hair is so thick.  It would itch like crazy and turn red, but never show any bumps.  Are you walking around in hot places?  (I would guess yes because you said you were sweating.)  Try to wear looser pants or thinner ones that let your legs "breathe" a little more.  I hope this helps and maybe you can find a solution to heat rashes on the web since I think that's what it sounds like.
      
      I hope this helps and that you find a solution to such an inconvenient issue.

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      Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I have this problem at times and I am always wearing jeans when it happens. Jeans must have something to do with it.

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      Donte9178posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It's not your body it's your pants unless we have the same body but I'm a guy and I wore my tightest pants I own because I left my other pants at a friends house. Anyway when I put them on and started walking around the house it itched a bit but i just thought it was just a natural itch until I got to far to go back then I thought some one gave me crabs or something. It actually felt like I was being stuck by needles. I'm a guy and I wear boxer brifes so I'm not sure if its the pants really but under my underwear I had no itch so it might just be something about tight blue jeans. To painful to look into it again. I'm sure you don't have crabs or anything. You can take a bath and never wear pants so tight that you can't bend or makes your butt fold when you sit down. Hope this helps!!!

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   paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

   Detergent was my first thought, but you eliminated that.
   
   I did an itching symptoms search. Found some unhappy stuff...

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3. 60

   rbe0posted 12 years ago

   Staying Hydrated enough?
   
   I agree could be allergic to detergents or something.

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4. 85

   rebekahELLEposted 12 years ago

   It could be some kind of dye in the blue jeans. Not sure about the thigh area other than maybe your legs are rubbing together? Are your jeans stretch? They may contain synthetic materials that can cause allergic reactions. Some of the chemicals used in clothing emit toxic gases and formaldehyde. 
   
   Kids complaining about labels is a real legitimate complaint. The labels and very often the final threading of fabrics are made with toxic chemicals. Maybe the threading in the seams?
   Flame retardant pajamas are made with toxic chemicals.

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5. 90

   wordscribe43posted 12 years ago

   Sweat can sometimes cause a histamine response in some people.  Perhaps the tight jeans trapping the sweat against your skin intensifies the reaction.  That may be the only reason you only experience it with the jeans on.  Otherwise, it would evaporate quickly and it wouldn't trigger the response.  Just a thought.

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6. 93

   melbelposted 12 years ago

   Yeah, I'm guessing it's  weird sweat/allergy thing.
   
   Strange thing I never used to have this problem in my teens when I was in my hackerwear/cyberwear phase with my pvc pants
   
   Example of cyberwear for those who weren't really weird like me.
   

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      wordscribe43posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Oh my gosh, that's totally what I'm wearing right now! 

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      1. 93

         melbelposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Haha!

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            wordscribe43posted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Honestly, I like it.  It looks like a Katy Perry get-up.  I love the shoes, but I'd kill myself.

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               melbelposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I had some shoes JUST like that in high school but they were black. I walked in them just fine. Kind of strange, really, given that I broke my foot seriously BECAUSE of my "safe" non-skid kitchen shoes in culinary school.

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                  wordscribe43posted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Go figure, huh?

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      Kangaroo_Jaseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I dunno, the yellow star on the stick just kinds of ruins the whole ensemble, ya know?

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7. 75

   Kangaroo_Jaseposted 12 years ago

   Mel,
   
   It maybe something as simple as pins and needles in your legs. As you say, you wearing tight jeans and the itching dissipates when you sit or the jeans are no longer being worn.
   
   Your jeans may be restricting blood flow in your legs!! Try more loose fitting jeans and see if there is a difference on occurrence.
   
   Good luck in finding a solution!

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8. 93

   melbelposted 12 years ago

   They are Old Navy jeans in the case that there may be something specific about these jeans causing an issue.
   (I guess for some reason some blue jeans have formaldehyde in them... wtf?)
   
   It could be a textile allergy, especially considering my brother suffers textile allergies. Thus far, I just have tree nut allergies and wood allergies. My sister is allergic to everything under the sun and my grandmother IS allergic to the sun. So I'd be genetically predisposed to pfftt being allergic to anything.

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   IzzyMposted 12 years ago

   To me, this doesn't sound like an allergy.
   
   The suddenness of the attack combined with how quickly it leaves strikes me of more a circulation problem.
   
   Do you remember when you were kid going out in the snow with your bare hands and playing until they went numb?
   
   Then when back in the house, the pain as the circulation came back? Then it would go and everything would be normal until the next time you were daft enough to go out in the snow without gloves.
   
   Down both legs, I think I would want to doctor to check things out. Maybe a scan of your lumbar spine might show up a problem.

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10. 84

    Emma Harveyposted 12 years ago

    I have the exact same problem and have tried to come up with some logical explanations.
    
    I had this a few years ago, working on my feet for long hours. I was stressed at home and worked 10 hours a day some days. I would sit and scratch like mad sometimes, until I had bruises all over my legs. At the time I put it down to my washing powder, changed it and it seemed to stop.
    
    Last year I started working in a busy hospital - long hours again, stressful. I would come home at the end of my shift and as soon as I took off my uniform, I would sit and scratch.
    
    The itching was exactly as you explained. Very sudden and a need to scratch and scratch. Then it would go away.
    
    I have recently moved away from living in London, changed jobs and my lifestyle has relaxed a bit. I have barley scratched like it since. I could put it down to a number of things:
    The heat and working on my feet all day. I do have varicose veins and maybe poor circulation. It could be dehydration. Or maybe stress. If anyone does know - I'd also be happy for the answer!

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    rebekahELLEposted 12 years ago

    It sounds like the sweat is interacting with the chemicals in the jean fabric and rubbing against your skin with the tight pants.  Were they new or relatively new jeans?
    
    Depending on the wash of the denim; dark, bleached, antique look, they use different chemicals to get that look and feel. It's good to give new jeans a separate laundering (before wearing0 with a full tub of water and let them soak. It can help get rid of the formaldehyde smell and loosen the fabric.  The formaldehyde is used on many fabrics for easy care. It's in a lot of clothing, including infant and baby wear! One of my hubs about children's health touches on the topic, protecting children from toxins in the home.
    
    I certainly don't know for sure what is causing your problem, but it could be the chemicals. And possibly because the pants are so tight.

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    cheryloneposted 12 years ago

    I was talking to my sister (who trained as a medical assistant) and she was having the same issue with a pair of jeans she had purchased at a second hand store.  At first she thought it was because of where she got them, but then she realized she had two other pair (from the same source) that didn't bother her but they didn't fit as tightly as the first pair.  I suspect (though I can't guarantee it) that it is a combination of the sweat, the tight pants and the fact that your legs can't breath very well in the confined space.  Try washing and hanging the jeans sideways to dry, sometimes that stretches the material and it might help. 

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    Uninvited Writerposted 12 years ago

    I used to get that due to being overheated.

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14. 52

    Benjaminzposted 11 years ago

    Hi melbel!  I'm so glad i found your post on the net.
    Thanks to you and those who've been such good help with their posts, I'm able to figure out more of this issue.
    I probably have the itchy leg syndrome the worst because i have it on my balls.
    It sucks big time. It's like torture 24/7 when im not wearing comfortable clothing at home. For me it really seems like its coming from the seams from the pants.
    
    I did some searching and...
    "Some experts have believed formaldehyde or various resins or textile finishes might be responsible for the skin irritations but laboratory tests have been negative for these factors."
    
    "An Oregon physician reporting on the syndrome says that wearing pre-washed, cotton-only Levis blue jeans - not so-called designer jeans - worked for one of his patients."
    
    And lastly, I wouldn't waste my time going to doctors I guess.
    I've already been to a dermatologist and they didn't have those kind of materials/chemicals in your jeans to actually test it and I've already read testimonials of other ppl finding out absolutely nothing from their doctors as well.
    
    The only solution other to finding pants you're not allergic to is to wear skirts, easy since you're a girl.

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       ramkimeenaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       It is fungus infection. Use azole based drug to cure it. Avoid soap in that itchy area. Keep the area dry. While sleeping allow air to touch that area.

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