Chafing: Treatment and PreventionChafing is one unpleasant side-effect of running that can usually be easily avoided. Have you ever been running and seen a guy run past you with his nipples bleeding? Or have you ever gone for a long run and come home to take a shower, only to scream in pain from the burning of water against raw skin? Sounds terrible? Gross? Actually it's one of those things that sounds really bad until it happens to you. And it happens at one time or another to every runner. The day of my first race, I wore a pair of cotton lined jogging pants. Worst choice ever! The cotton rubbed against my legs for the entire 4 miles. And I'm a slow runner, so we're talking close to an hour of running with the cotton cloth rubbing against my sweating legs. That was not fun at all, and to make matters worse, a friend picked me up and we ended up running a bunch of errands before I was able to go home and change. By the time I got home, I was trying to hold back the tears. But I learned two valuable lessons. Leson One - Wear The Proper Type of ClothingCotton is just about the worst choice of clothing to wear while running, especially in the heat. A better choice is polyester and spandex. Notice most clothing in running stores is made out of this plastic-like material. But you also want it to be breathable, especially if you are running in the heat. I like the cotton/spandex shirts with the mesh-like sleeves. And make sure everything is made of this material, shorts/pants, shirts and under-garments. It is especially important to pay attention to the bra you are using. There are other reasons to make sure your bra fits right besides avoiding bouncing. You want your bra to fit very snugly so there is no moving around, but you also want a breathable fabric because if you sweat a lot, the moisture can cause chafing. But don't worry, whether you are large chested or small, even if you are nursing, we will help you find the perfect running bra. Link coming soon, meanwhile contact me with your questions. Leson Two - Treat and Prevent Chafing with a LubricantIf you do have a little chafing, it is not the end of the world. Put a little Vaseline on it, and you should be fine by the next day.Even better, be pro-active and apply Vaseline or some other type of lubricant BEFORE you go for a run, especially if you are running in the heat or going for a long run. I make it a practice to apply Vaseline before every run to any area that I have any problems with at all. Better be safe than sorry. Some people get extra fancy and go out and buy body glide which comes in a deodorant-looking bottle. You can find it in most running stores. Or really, anything that you would apply to a diaper rash: Vaseline, A & D, Desitin cream, you name it. Return from Chafing to Running Injuries and Soreness
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