Do you notice any tingling sensation whenever you drink your pre-workout? One of the common problems with almost all pre-workouts is that it starts giving you tingling or itchy skin. This makes a big reason to be concerned about using pre-workout. There are several ingredients in pre-workout which have the potential to cause your skin to feel tingling. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent such a complication. By carefully reading this article, you can find out what pre-workout ingredient makes your muscles tingle.
Related Article: Pre Workout Or Creatine: Which Is Better?
What Ingredient In Pre Workout Makes You Tingle?
Although it is hard to identify which exact ingredient in pre-workout causes your muscles to tingle, we can say that there are several ingredients that can cause your skin to feel tingling.
Most of the pre-workout contain caffeine stimulants, niacin and beta-alanine. All of these ingredients can cause your skin to tingle. If you have a history of skin allergies, you should not use pre-workout. You should also be careful when using pre-workout that is made of stimulants. You should also be careful when using pre-workout that contains caffeine.
Pre-workout supplements are a great way to help you increase your workout endurance. However, it is important that you are aware of what ingredients in pre-workout can cause your skin to tingle. If you are looking for an effective pre-workout supplement, you should look for a pre-workout supplement that does not contain caffeine. Another common pre-workout ingredient which can cause tingling or itchiness is beta-alanine. It is a non-essential amino acid that helps your muscles recover. It also helps you to build muscle. Beta-alanine is found in various pre-workout supplements. The third ingredient in most pre-workouts is niacin. Niacin is an essential B vitamin that helps the body convert carbs into energy. One of the common side effects of Niacin is the skin tingling effect.
These ingredients are safe to consume, but some side effects like skin tingling might occur which is harmless as long as you can handle this little discomfort.
Related Article: Does Pre-Workout Make You Poop?
Why does caffeine cause skin tingling?
Caffeine is a stimulant. It is one of the ingredients in pre-workout. When you consume caffeine, it stimulates your brain and nervous system. This makes your muscles contract. This makes your muscles twitch and feels tingling. It is important that you should get a caffeine-free pre-workout if you have skin allergies.
Why does beta-alanine cause skin tingling?
The exact reason beta-alanine causes skin tingling is not known. However, different theories are there which explain how beta-alanine cause skin tingling.
One such theory is that beta-alanine helps you to build muscle and recover faster, it also causes your muscles to contract. When your muscles contract, it is inevitable that your skin will be pinched. When you exercise, your muscles contract. This contraction can cause your skin to feel tingling.
Researchers have found another possible explanation for this condition is that our skin has neurons which signal to itch or tingle to our brains. When we take pre-workout supplements, the amino acid, beta-alanine triggers our nerve receptors that send the sensation of tingling to our brain.
Beta-alanine is not harmful to consume, but it can cause your skin to tingle. The tingling effect can last for a few hours. If you have a history of skin allergies, you should avoid using beta-alanine.
Why does niacin cause tingly skin?
The tingling of the skin is a common side effect of niacin. It may be caused by the body not producing enough niacin in the blood, or by too much niacin in the body. Niacin is needed for many functions in the body, including helping with digestion, and energy metabolism and helping the body make certain chemicals needed for healthy nerves and muscles.
The exact reason for niacin causing tingly skin is not yet known. However, researchers believe that it is an allergic reaction caused by the Langerhans cell, which is a part of the skin’s immune system which triggers such allergic symptoms.
Niacin is a B vitamin that is often used in pre-workout supplements. Result of which people observe side effects like skin flushing after taking their pre-workout. This occurs when niacin interacts with the immune system. It stimulates the production of histamine and increases the blood flow to the skin. As a result, the person might experience itching, tingling and flushing of the skin. Some people can tolerate niacin quite well and some people cannot.
However, this side effect may only be mild if your skin is not sensitive. You may be able to continue with your pre-workout drink if you are not experiencing severe itching. However, if you are experiencing any other symptoms, it is best to consult your doctor.
Why do I get itchy when I take pre-workout?
It is quite common to feel itchy when you consume pre-workout. The two most common ingredients of any pre-workout are niacin and beta-alanine. Both of these are known for allergic symptoms like itching or flushing of the skin.
These symptoms could be mild or severe depending on how your body reacts to these chemicals. Pre-workouts are safe to consume and these are just uncomfortable but harmless side effects of consuming pre-workout.
How long does the tingling from pre-workout last?
The tingling caused by pre-workout lasts for a few hours. However, it may last for more than an hour. Certain ingredients of pre-workouts such as beta-alanine and niacin cause tingling and it varies from person to person.
For instance, beta-alanine can cause tingling for up to 3 hours. It is possible that you may experience tingling for longer. It is not harmful to consume, but it can cause your skin to tingle. If you have a history of skin allergies, you should avoid using beta-alanine.
Tingling may also be caused by the body’s immune system responding to niacin present in the pre-workout. This tingling may also last for a few hours after you consume the pre-workout.
How do I stop tingling from pre-workout?
The tingling sensation after taking your pre-workout is normal. It is not harmful and so you need not worry about it. However, if the tingling is not going away even after a few hours of taking your pre-workout then you might be allergic to pre-workout ingredients. In that case, check for the ingredients mainly niacin and beta-alanine.
Ask your doctor how you can avoid such allergic reactions, they may suggest avoiding that particular pre-workout brand. You can also try getting a pre-workout that does not have niacin and beta-alanine. Alternatively, you can split up your doses of pre-workouts.
Instead of taking a larger amount once a day, split it into several smaller amounts throughout the day. The tingling sensation is just the way how your body reacts to your pre-workouts and you will get used to it in a week or two.
Conclusion
Pre-workout is not a harmful product to consume. However, it is best to check for the ingredients of the pre-workout you are consuming. The ingredients of pre-workout that cause tingling sensation are caffeine, niacin and beta-alanine. The tingling may last for up to a few hours after you consume the pre-workout. It is possible that you may experience tingling for longer. Pre-workouts are safe to consume, but they can cause your skin to tingle.