Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Pins and Needles in Response to Heat

Hello:

I am a 31 year-old male.  I've been having a sensation of pins and needles and it appears to be happening when my body gets overheated.  I've noticed some pins and needles in my chest for quite some time now when I work out.

Lately, it's been getting worse.  Now I get it when I'm in a hot shower, or bundled up in my coat and hat in my apartment prior to walking out the door.  It also happens when I get excited emotionally.  Especially when I go into fits of laughter, as I often do.  

The pins and needles happen mainly on my chest and arms.  Though, I have felt it on my head, when I swim for exercise.  The sensation is followed by itchiness.

Any ideas as to what this may be?
Thank you.  


68 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hey guys, Bruno back here.

So the exercise results went amazingly awesome. Before start going to the gym, i went on morning routine cardio exercise for about 20 to 30 minutes a day, until starting sweat. As many in here, the beggining was hard, painfull needling, but 3 minutes laters i started sweat and the needling was gone.

I have done cardio for 4 days in a week (just one week). Now i'm gonna start going to the gym, but i'm almost 3 or 4 weeks without exercising, and i felt no pain or needling since that first exercising week, for the first time in 3 years!!

Also my arterial blood pressure is way better, my Arrhythmia doesn't seem much a problem, actually i don't even feel the need of taking any medicine for it anymore.

I am so happy to be free once and for all from this problem that has been tormenting me. (also i can sweat way normally now xD)

Go exercise guys, cardio mainly. It worked for me, for others here as well, it may work for you. God Bless
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Wow Bruno that is awesome. I am definitely going to give it a try. My doctor says it's probably just anxiety and my tests come back fine except for I have borderline anxiety. I have cut out caffeine and  it's been about 3 weeks and as I feel better I still get same pins and needles. I tried to start exercising but the evil  sensation, stopped me in my tracks. I going to try and ease into but still try and break a sweat. Thanks you guys for the hope because I don't want to take anxiety/depression meds been there done that.
Avatar universal
I have an answer.  I am a diabetic with the exact same symptoms.  The answer is small fiber neuropathy.  The small fiber are close to the skin and thus the problem when sweating.  Plus, the testing doesn't test small fiber nerve damage, so it isn't measured.  Bet you like your showers hot - your nerves don't measure the heat.  Hope this helps.  All the docs do is help with pain.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
You should get tested for hereditary transthyretin Amyloidosis. Small fiber neuropathy, UC (misdiagnosis), cardiac symptoms are all consistent. I hope you find your answer. There is medicine if you are positive. Unfortunately, it’s rare and most never receive a dx
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have all the symptoms since 1988. Sharp intense needle pain that spreads quickly over my back, head and arms when I walk into heat, either artificial or direct. I’ve had this reaction since 1988. It also arrives during an adrenal surge like when I slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. For over 30 years I’ve had no answers. The needles hit like when a leg falls asleep but the intensity and pain is like thousands of hot needles being slammed into me all at once. I do not get hives or rashes, just the unseen pain which goes away if I take off my shirt and walk into a cold shower or run into a cold room.

The pain begin during a hot shower, hit when I worked out or exercised, but also when I am motionless and it is too warm. I cannot trap any heat on my head or body, no sweaters and before I walk into any building during the winter I must remove any coat or else I will suffer more.

Presently I am trapped in an air conditioned room because the pain has actually intensified.

I need answers.  Cholinergic urticaria seems like a proper diagnosis but I never get rashes or bumps.

I thought I was the only one who endured these symptoms but so many hear describe things the same way as I have since 88. You’d think physicians would note the similar details and put things all together.

Thanks for reading.

Doug
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I've had this same condition since 2010 and i'm currently 36. I thought I should chime in on how I deal with it. Like a few of you have mentioned already, my personal therapy is to do exercise daily so that I can let my skin sweat. Depending how far into this daily routine you're in, you might get some pins and needles at the beginning of the exercise session or none at all. The goal here is that you will not get any prickly sensation for the rest of the day even if you get hot again, get nervous, laugh hysterically and such. If you do exercises to have a mild sweat, after a few days you should reach the same goal as if you started with more sweat inducing exercises. Personally, i'm at a point that doing 10-15 mins of mild sweat inducing aerobic exercise is good enough for me (such as skipping rope). If you stop doing this routine, the prickly sensations will come back 2 or 4 days later. You could get by skipping one day once in a while. This is the one major factors that keeps the needles sensation away but I do add in other good habits such as keeping hydrated (don't over do it) such as sipping on some hot tea or hot water sometimes or just plain room temperature water, have good ventilation in the house, turn on the humidifier sometimes when feeling dry,  using moisturizer lotion ( preferably non-scented ) after washing face or a warm shower, making sure I have adequate sleep and meditation daily.

I do notice this condition can get more active when changing seasons, specially going into winter and out into spring but only notice it when I stop the routine for a while. I suppose why I might have this condition is due to a mix of possible other factors such as past stress, perhaps some dry skin or eczema,  hot/warm showers, nervousness ... etc, which I have tried to solve but did not change the needles sensation issue. I have gone to see doctors but none can come up with different solutions than what has already been mentioned in this forum. I also noticed that if you lead a mostly sedentary life, you might still have bit of the needles... but if you keep active after the daily exercise treatment, like just doing normal activities... walking, house work, going to the office, ... I think this keeps the fluids flowing so it doesn't build up to cause needles more easily. I still look around for more information on this condition. I hope this might be of some help!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had the same thing for 27 years. I haven't had it for a few years but its back. But this time it hasn't gone away as its got warmer. I have just ordered B12. The only other things I have is that my arms and legs are a bit dry but moisturiser makes my symptoms worse. My hands are cold whilst my core is hot, even when I get the prickly heat, don't know if this makes a difference. I will try the B12 and if it doesn't work I will see the doctor about my small fibres. I have given up caffeine and alcohol, no difference and also tried anti histamines with no success
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

I used to feel these symptoms and i had stopped feeling them after i had dropped weight from 210 to 180 my diet was healthy and i was always working out. Whenever i got the needle poke sensations it would be whenever i stress out or when ever i get an exiety or whenever i eat bad food. But if you work out and you dont put your self in a lot of stress then you will have a chance to get rid of this feeling. Now my theory to this problem is because we have to much sodium and sugar in our blood stream we need to sweat out that sodium and need our bodys to flush out that sugar and start doing weights so that you can burn up that sodium quicker.
1 min
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I used to feel these symptoms and i had stopped feeling them after i had dropped weight from 210 to 180 my diet was healthy and i was always working out. Whenever i got the needle poke sensations it would be whenever i stress out or when ever i get an exiety or whenever i eat bad food. But if you work out and you dont put your self in a lot of stress then you will have a chance to get rid of this feeling. Now my theory to this problem is because we have to much sodium and sugar in our blood stream we need to sweat out that sodium and need our bodys to flush out that sugar and start doing weights so that you can burn up that sodium quicker.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am Raaj, I have been feeling pinning and needles sensations in my skin from last couple of days. Specially it occurs on my upper body, in my chest and my back. I get these sensations whenever my body gets heated up during work out or whenever I go out in the sun. I am not been able to rectify what the problem is.  Can anyone please tell me what is causing these and how to cure it?
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Hello Raaj, did you try exercising to sweat it out?
Hello Raaj, did you try exercising to sweat it out?
Avatar universal
I am Raaj, I have been feeling pinning and needles sensations in my skin from last couple of days. Specially it occurs on my upper body, in my chest and my back. I get these sensations whenever my body gets heated up during work out or whenever I go out in the sun. I am not been able to rectify what the problem is.  Can anyone please tell me what's causing these and how to cure it?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tea tree oil mixed with a base oil, coconut oil or olive oil, can relieve the itching  and make the hives go away. And this is called Cholinergic Urticaria. If you don't want to try the tea tree oil, try Gold Bond Extra Strength Medicated lotion, or even the store brand helps. Hope it helps someone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ive had this problem for probably a year now the rash came put of no where when i swam in a lake at first i heard it was bacteria from goose crap and it stays in your skin then i heard it was scabies and its not then i heared it was gluten intollerance heat rash etc etc im going to try these things i can go to a doctor dont have the money or health insurance atm but i am a coffee drinker and i could loose a little weight idk if my weight gain after a baby had something to do with it or my eating habbits idk but im going to change it all ive tried all the normal itching creams and lotions it used to be on my neck when i thought it was tinea versicolor ao i bought some cream rubbed it in one spot to see what it would do it went away... the rest after i rubbed it on didnt it got worse idk what it is but it looks kind of circular blotches spreading through the lower back sometimes my neck and chest my back gets itchy and verry dry and now stings like i have a cut and somones pouring hydrogen peroxied or im getting poked with needles all over my lower back when i heat up if you guys have mor advice i would love to hear oh and as of recently it went to my elbows i now have these perfectly circular spots on the inside of my elbows that are a verry verry light brown and are dry
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had this five years ago. It happened in winter and was extremely painful. Whenever I sweated, even slightly, I got painful pinprick sensation on my back and chest, accompanied by red blotches. It was like I was being stabbed with little needles all over. It happened when I got hot, when I walked from one room to another, when I ate food, if I was happy or sad or anxious or any emotional response - basically the slightest amount of sweat caused it.

The doctors had no idea. I was convinced I must have had some kind of neurological disorder, and Googled all kinds of symptoms that I tried to make fit.

But I worked out that if I forced myself to exercise through the pain, then I would be OK for the rest of that day, but it didn't really solve it because it would come back after sleep, so I'd have to force myself to exercise until I sweated a lot every single day.

Then I got prescribed antibiotics by my dentist and it suddenly was solved just like that and never came back. My theory was that perhaps there was a bacterial overgrowth in the sweat glands.

This year it has come back, only on my back. For the past few years I went to the gym a few times a week, and of course showered every day, but the last two weeks I lost my job and was at home not exercising and I didn't change my bed covers and slept more. It was of course in winter, and I didn't have the heating on, so I basically wasn't sweating very much at all. I believe this was the main trigger, because when it happened the first time I was also living in a very cold apartment in winter without giving my body opportunities to sweat.

Personally I enjoy being cold and have never heated my home enough, but this isn't a great idea long-term because when you don't sweat enough your pores become blocked and your skin doesn't get moisturised. What are the pores getting blocked with? Who knows. Dead skin cells, bacteria, whatever. When the sweat can't get out it seeps under the skin and your immune system then attacks the sweat because it's in a place that it shouldn't be, and the histamine response is what produces the pain, itching and redness. It happens to us in winter because we are not being exposed to heat enough and are not sweating enough.

If you have this problem then I recommend that you:

- exercise as much as you can
- shower regularly
- change your bed covers and clothes
- heat your home enough or expose yourself to heat regularly (e.g. sauna or steam room)
- eat spicy food
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yea im getting the same pins and needles, the worst is on my feet and hands. it occurs everytime i burst out laughing, get embarrased, do anything physical or anything else that would raise my body temprature. its painfull pins and needles. it worries me alot these days.

it started this winter, about november- december. and it simply wont quit.

im going to start working out soon, to check if this cures it. ill be back whit answers in a month
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey guys, Bruno back here.

So the exercise results went amazingly awesome. Before start going to the gym, i went on morning routine cardio exercise for about 20 to 30 minutes a day, until starting sweat. As many in here, the beggining was hard, painfull needling, but 3 minutes laters i started sweat and the needling was gone.

I have done cardio for 4 days in a week (just one week). Now i'm gonna start going to the gym, but i'm almost 3 or 4 weeks without exercising, and i felt no pain or needling since that first exercising week, for the first time in 3 years!!

Also my arterial blood pressure is way better, my Arrhythmia doesn't seem much a problem, actually i don't even feel the need of taking any medicine for it anymore.

I am so happy to be free once and for all from this problem that has been tormenting me. (also i can sweat way normally now xD)

Go exercise guys, cardio mainly. It worked for me, for others here as well, it may work for you. God Bless
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, i'm Bruno and i suffer from this for about 3 years now.
I get very painfull needling on the arms, chest, some in my forehead, but the worst are on my back. (None on the legs or lowers parts)
For me these attacks last about 25 or 30 seconds, never had one longer than these, and i get red spots (like when u scratch urself with nails, but these aren't caused from scretching) spread out through my chest in small size, who a disappear few seconds after the needling attack.

As all of you, i do noticed that i sweated a little bit after the attacks, and once after the worst one i had, i sweated a lot.
I do not exercise at all, these attacks came from heat and any emotion that can cause my body to sweat.

I have High blood pressure, and was diagnose with Arrhythmia (Benign), so be sure if you don't have such problem as high arterial pressure as well. On my first days taking HBP medication (Selozok, a beta-blocker,50 mg daily) i didn't had any attacks, i could even walk and run during summer heat, but looks like the medication effect didn't last more than 1 and half month for HBP, and the needling attack came back after 2 weeks. Although i'm still taking it everyday.

I'm gonna start exercising and sweat soon, and gonna write the results in here in next 2 weeks or next month.

Also i'm going to change my daily diet (wich consists mostly in wheat food and industrialized milk)

Wish the best for you all who suffer from these problem too. God bless.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Lots of people on here have mentioned 'I've had the same symptoms'  This is what I did over the years to combat this.  

1. Check for und lying health conditions.. from diabetes, kidneys to the liver - check all and if you have an underlying condition, try to do what you can to alivate or eliminate.  There are many people that have underlying conditions that don't find out until there older.. For example Hepatitis C which can lead to other conditions such as uticaria and periphal neauropathy.

2. Check for food intolerances.. gluten, sugar, dairy and caffeine can all play apart in uticaria and neuropathy.. other foods, drinks can exasperate uticaria in regards to heat

3. keep a good balanced diet, drink lots of fluids and exercise.

4. Make sure your not vitamin deficient with your GP.  B12 plays a part in supporting nerves from being damaged.

5. Don't have a hot shower, hot bath or sauna! keep it to warm water

6. It would be advisable to stay away from coffee.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Same thing as you, exactly. I get them right after a hot shower or exercise. Rash around my neck if it gets really bad. Cooling down is the best and only option. I have back issues as well, bulging discs and anxiety. So I'm sure its a mixture of things. Trying to work out everyday with hopes that it goes away.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
PROBLEM  RESOLVED
Hi guys, I was having same problem from last 5 years. I was not being able to laugh, cry , workout , go out in sun , take a tease or taunt.
My life was almost ceased. But by god grace
I had gone through various medical procedure including MRI to nerves test.
I am presently taking anxiety spectrum disorder treatment and main tablet of treatment is gabapin and methylcobalmin
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Guys,

Try allegra 120mg. its gives 24 hour relief from this.

Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I suffer from anxiety and when you are anxious or stressed out your body will respond by pooling blood around the major organs and away from the skin.  This is why stressed out people may appear pale.  If you have ever had a panic attack you know that during the attack so much blood is pulled away from the extremities that the arms and legs can go numb.  If you are chronically stressed or anxious blood flow to the skin, especially in the arms and legs could be compromised for weeks or even months.  Any warmth may cause the blood vessels in the skin to dilate allowing more warm blood to flow into this area.  Now if you ever slept on your arm you know that the arm can become numb and "fall asleep".  When the blood flow is restored to the arm you will feel the same pins and needles feeling until the normal flow is re-established.  So when you start exercising the body warms up, the skin warms up, adrenalin causes blood vessels to dilate and normal blood flow is established in the skin.  Now if you have been anxious or stressed for a long time the exercise may normalize the blood flow to your skin for the first time in many days or weeks.  The sudden availability of oxygenated blood in the skin can cause the nerve cells in the skin to become hyperactive until they become accustomed to the higher oxygen levels.

Now I suffer from anxiety.  If I am unable to exercise for an extended period of time my anxiety level increases and the sensation of pins and needled returns.  When I am able to resume my exercise schedule the pins and needles feeling is quite bad for the first few days.  Usually by the third day the pins and needles feeling starts to subside and by the fifth day it is gone.  If I then exercise regularly the pins and needles feeling rarely reappears however if I am very anxious then even the exercise cannot stop this symptom until the anxiety subsides.

If, like me, you have had all the medical tests and nothing was ever found then you should accept that this symptom is completely harmless.  I have had this symptom, off and on, for 30 years and it has never done anything more than make me a little uncomfortable.  If you are stressed or anxious then work on that and the symptom will likely get better.  If it gets worse when you exercise do not worry and do not stop.  The only way out is through.  
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I have been studying the overarching effects of stress in biological functions and it just so happens to be that I've suffered from these symptoms and chronic stress for more than five years now. Never have I imagine a casual link between these two variables. This makes a lot of sense since stress changes regular homeostatic function by deregulation of neuroendocrine commands. The level of insight you just conveyed has garnered my utmost respect... I take my hat off.
Avatar universal
...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
...
Helpful - 0
16353777 tn?1447226378
i have also same problem but in only winter when weather is dry :(
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community

Top Neurology Answerers
620923 tn?1452915648
Allentown, PA
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease