Allergic to the cold!

[BrynCP]

I don't know if anybody else gets such a thing and how they manage it?

If the temperature drops below 5C and I am cycling, as soon as I get home into the warmth, I get four patches of my skin that first go red, then sort of bubble up, and itch, which I just cannot resist, they then go a funny colour for about a week, probably as I damage the skin scratching it. It's like some kind of heat rash I guess.

The four patches are: my upper left and right thigh, a strip that runs through, and just below and above my belly button, and my left wrist.

I don't think it's related to the material, as these days I wear a padded boxer short, made of lycra, where as the last time this happened I was wearing normal cotton boxer shorts under normal padded cycling shorts. Above this I wear a pair of tracksuit bottoms. On my top half I just wear a polyester base layer and a windproof jacket.

 

[Dave 123]

Ooooooh, you're in trouble.....!

 

[Dave 123]

Would antihistimine help?

 

[Gravity Aided]

http://www.livestrong.com/article/293528-itchy-skin-related-to-cold-weather/
This may be the problem, or part of the solution, skin problems are so complex it is often something you never would think of, but I'm also rooting for allergy to elastics as a theory.
Might also look at this thread,
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/chaffing-again.147188/

 

[fossyant]

You may need windproof bib tights if you are wearing Lycra.

I use these when it starts to get cold. The windproof bit is on the thigh, and across your lower stomach and sensitive bits.

I have two pairs, some Biemme ones and some Aldi Pro ones for commuting. Might be worth a look in Aldi if they are on sale. My first pair fell to bits in two rides, but this second pair have been fine in a few hundred miles.