Chafing

You just finished a great run and feel tired but good.  After spending a few minutes basking in the afterglow of your run, you head for the shower.  You can't wait to feel the soothing warmth of the water cascading down those tired muscles.  As the steam billows, you step in ready for your well deserved reward but instead of feeling gratifying bliss, you feel a sharp sting and cringe.  Your skin is chafed.  The rest of the shower you spend trying to keep the hot burning water off that small spot of raw skin.

Chafing occurs when loose fabric rubs repeatedly against skin.  Classic trouble spots for chafing are the inner thighs, bra-line (for women), nipples (for men) and under your arms.  If you don't take precautions, chafing can become an open bleeding wound.  No one wants that to happen.

To avoid chafing...

Wear snug clothing.  Spandex shorts should prevent chafing of your inner thighs.  If you don't like the look of spandex, wear spandex underneath running shorts--your thighs will thank you.  Men--to avoid the perplexing phenomenon of bleeding nipples, wear a compression t-shirt underneath your regular cotton workout shirt.  If you don't have a compression shirt, use bandaids.

Avoid cotton.  Synthetic fabrics keep moisture away from your skin, whereas cotton gets wet and stays wet.  Wet skin that rubs, chafes.

Fresh clothing.  Don't be tempted to grab yesterday's shorts out of the hamper.  Dried-on sweat forms salt crystals and stiffens fabric.  You'll be running with sand paper between your legs.

Preventative lubricant.  With increased mileage, the above guidelines are often not enough to prevent chafing.  Using a preventative lubricant before you exercise will help.  Vaseline is a favorite--you can find it anywhere.  That old tube of diaper-rash cream that you never thought you'd use again is also a good choice.  If Vaseline and Balmex are not sophisticated enough for you, there's Body Glide, Sportslick, Chafe Eez and several others available at most sporting goods stores.

Lube up, LACE UP, then enjoy that shower!