Why Does Preworkout Make You Itchy?

If you've ever taken a preworkout and found yourself scratching your palms, face or arms, you're not alone. That itchiness, which people often refer to as "The Tingles", is one of the most common sensations people report after taking a preworkout.  Why do preworkouts make you itchy, well the culprit is beta alanine, a common preworkout ingredient. 

Some users love "The Tingles" they like the effect, they feel it helps their training and they say that's how they know their preworkout has kicked in. Others like myself however are not big fan of the tingles or the itchiness that comes with preworkouts which contain beta alanine, which is most of them these days.

What is Beta Alanine?

Beta-Alanine is a non-essential amino acid found in a majority of preworkout supplements. If you're like me and dislike the tingles, were in the minority, but you can shop our collection of Beta Alanine Free Preworkouts. Beta Alanine helps to improve endurance by increasing carnosine levels in your muscles which can buffer lactic acid and delay fatigue during intense workouts. While beta-alanine is a powerhouse for performance, its also responsible for that itchy or tingly feeling that kicks in shortly after taking most preworkouts.

What Causes "The Tingles"?

What causes the tingles, well if you're Chris Mathews from MSNBC President Obama gives you tingles, but in regards to preworkout supplements, the technical term for this sensation is paresthesia. When you take beta alanine it binds to nerve receptors just beneath the skin. This interaction can trigger a tingling or itchy sensation, especially in areas with more nerve endings like your face, neck and hands. Personally I find my the top of my head as well as my palms are the areas most effected by beta alanine. 

Is It Dangerous?

The good news is that the tingles are completely harmless, they're just a side effect of your body processing the beta-alanine. For most people this sensation fades within about 30-60 minutes and those who take a preworkout regularly will notice the tingles become less intense after a few weeks of taking it. 

How Can You Reduce The Itchiness?

The If you enjoy the performance benefits of beta alanine but don't love the tingles there are a couple of solutions. If you're just taking beta alanine alone you can take it in smaller doses throughout the day, however if you're taking a preworkout that contains beta alanine this wouldn't be a solution. The other solution is to look for beta alanine free preworkouts. While the majority of preworkouts these days do contain beta alanine, we do have a collection of preworkouts which are free of beta alanine. 

Wrapping Up

Many fitness enthusiasts love the tingles, it signals to them their preworkout has kicked in and they enjoy that aspect as part of their gym ritual. If you're one of those people many brands are putting out preworkouts that have 5.6 grams of beta alanine, much more than the standard 3.2 grams most preworkouts have historically had. Itchiness or not beta alanine is one of the most effective ingredients for boosting performance, so if you can handle that prickly or tingly sensation, your workout will thank you.

Author

John has been helping people in the fitness and nutrition industry for over 10 years. He is an avid biker, hiker and fitness enthusiast. Most notably, you can find him on Youtube instructing viewers about the newest products to hit the supplement industry.

John Frigo