TMI – Chafing…

If you’re a person, I’m sure you’ve experienced chafing at some point in your life. ; ) Whether it’s thighs, nipples, sports bra band, or arms, it happens. And if you haven’t experienced this, you’re one of the lucky ones!

Chafing happens when skin rubs against skin or fabric rubs against skin. Lots of moisture, such as sweat or rain, make chafing even worse. 

This topic has come up a bunch as a topic for TMI, so I thought I’d share some things that have worked for me, Jake, and some others I talked to about this. Remember, I’m not a expert in this, just sharing experience.

​When I chafe, it’s under my sports bra band or under my arms where tank tops tend to rub my skin. I have scars from sports bras cutting into the skin under my boobs, so I definitely know how painful chafing can be. It is not fun!

There is nothing worse than hopping in the shower after a run or workout only to find that you have chafed. Your skin burns so badly.

My tips & tricks for avoiding chafing:
1. Know what clothes trigger the chafe and avoid them. I have one tank top that I love, but it’s a little baggy and whenever I wear it, it chafes underneath my armpits. Always. Maybe it’s time to get rid of it…
Moisture-wicking clothing is a life saver when it comes to chafing. Wearing the appropriate gear to keep yourself dry will help you avoid chafing. Stay away from cotton. Cotton and chafing do not mix. Cotton bad.

2. Find some type of lubricant/cream that works for you. I swear by BodyGlide for Her and Jake loves Chamois Butt’r. Ever since I started using Body Glide, I haven’t chafed! I never start a run without slathering some on under my sports bra band. It’s a life saver. And when I race or have a run over 10 miles, I put it on the backs of my arms and under my armpits. It helps SO much. I used to wear a chest strap heart-rate monitor under my bra band, but it would cut into my skin and slice it. I tried the BodyGlide with it, but it didn’t help, so I just stopped wearing it. If anyone has tips for dealing with that, I’d love to hear them!
When Jake is racing (he runs ultras, so he’s out there a LONG time), he slathers Chamois Butt’r on every time he sees his crew. Legs, groin, arms…everywhere. We just know that in addition to his food and hydration, we need to have a bottle of Chamois Butt’r out. Dry skin tends to chafe more than moisturized skin, which is why these products help! They also create a protective layer between skin and skin or skin and fabric.

3. Lastly, sticking with the idea of choosing quality gear, choose tag less and seamless items. Less fabric to rub your skin = less chance of the chafe happening. And ladies, be careful when choosing sports bras. If they’re too loose, the fabric will rub you raw, but if they’re too tight, the fabric will dig into your skin and cause irritation. 

We can do these things to prevent chafing, but sometimes, it’s just going to happen. When it does, there are a few things we can do to combat the hurt.

1. Don’t take a scalding hot shower. A lot of people I talked to said a lukewarm shower doesn’t make the skin sting as badly.

2. After you shower, pat your skin dry, don’t rub.

3. Once you’re dry, put something on the chafed areas. I like to use coconut oil, but you can also use Destin or other diaper rash creams, or even a lotion like Aquaphor. The more moisture the cream has, the better.

4. Avoid tight clothing while your skin heals. Putting a tight shirt on after I’ve chafed the crap out of my rib cage and armpits is hell.

If you have any other tips and tricks for chafing or what to do after it’s happened, hit me up! I’ll add to this post. Stay chafe-free out there, friends!

Happy Wednesday!