Wind Burn

     If you're super dedicated to running and choose to run even in the harsh winter weather, then good for you! Lots of people take winter as their time off, or as I refer to it, their hibernation from running. But if you're like me and need to run in the winter in order to prepare for a spring sport, you probably have noticed that when you get back from a run and strip for your shower, you look as if you have a massive sunburn over about eighty-five percent of your body, along with an uncomfortable itch. I refer to this a windburn.
     I never really don't expect to get windburn during my winter runs. It's kind of just something you have to put up with. And you don't notice you have it until the running has stopped and you've cooled off a little bit.
     So you're probably wondering what it is that causes this strange, itchy, sunburn looking reaction on your skin to such a simple action as running. It's not the running itself, but the enviroment. It's the wind. No matter if it's windy or not, you'll probably notice that you'll always get windburn in the cold. This is because you're still creating a "wind" yourself when you're running. Your body (specifically, legs) is still creating a non-existent impact against the cool air, so you're still going to experience windburn
     You'll probably notice that once you shower and get warmed up again the windburn you're experiencing may worsen. But if I were to break it down scientifically, your skin after you run in the winter is cold. That's pretty much a no brainer. So when you begin to warm up, this is when you'll notice the windburn's presence. That's because as you warm up, blood will flow to your legs (generally when windburn hits the hardest) and your skin will most likely begin to turn red, giving the look of a nasty and way too large sunburn. What causes the itching is when your body releases some of its natural chemicals, like cytokines and leukotrienes. Don't worry, it's not dangerous and it's most likely not going to hurt your skin.
     To prevent and lessen the presence of windburn just remember to put an extra layer on next time you're going to go running. Just be patient and try to suck it up a bit, there's really not a whole lot you can do once you get it. After about half an hour it should go away! (418)