Ways Women Can Avoid Chafing

Imagine you are on a long run and everything feels right. The pace is strong and steady. Your strides are comfortably long. Breathing is carefree. The last thing you want is a painful distraction, like chafing.

Redness or sore spots on your skin can be evidence of chafing. Most of the time, chafing is the result of clothing repeatedly rubbing on your skin. Both men and women are susceptible to chafing, especially in the nipple area. However, the potential to experience chafing is greater for women simply because a woman typically wears a sports bra while running.

Every woman should know about fabric and fit when it comes to wearing a sports bra for running. A little knowledge in these areas will help you prevent painful chafing interruptions.

First, avoid sports bras made with cotton. Cotton traps moisture, resulting in a soggy bra. A soggy bra is more likely to move and shift back and forth during a run than a bra that wicks or pulls moisture from the skin.

Second, the sports bra must fit your body like glove, for lack of a better analogy. The band or piece that goes around the rib cage should be very snug. If your bra band moves back and forth while doing trunk twists, chances are it will do the same on a run.

The cups should fully encase each breast. If your cup "runneth over" with breast tissue, you are exposing yourself to potential problems. The bra will not support like it should, allowing the breasts to move up and down or back and forth during a run. This movement in itself can be painful. It is also a common cause of chafing.

Is chafing still a persistent problem even though you've managed to avoid cotton and you are confident you are wearing the best fitting sports bra? If so, try applying a commercial product like a petroleum jelly on your skin where chafing occurs prior to your run.

Credits

The information was compiled by Dyna DuMore, Fit X-pert at www.X-chrom.com. All expressions and recommendations are based on her opinions, values and test result findings. If you need help knowing what is the best sports bra style for you and what is a perfect fit, then feel free to contact her at dyna(at)X-chrom.com or visit www.X-chrom.com for interactive online assistance. All content on this Run The Planet webpage is considered property of X-chrom.com. None shall be reprinted or reproduced without expressed permission to the user. Copyright © 2003 www.X-chrom.com. All rights reserved.