What to wear to stop chafing when running?

Running is one of the best forms of exercise you can do for cardiovascular health, weight loss and mental wellbeing. But let’s be honest, it’s not always straightforward because chafing is a real pain in the ass – literally! Thankfully we’ve put together this ultimate guide on everything you need to know about how to avoid chafing while running.

What Is Chafing?

Before diving into how you can prevent chafing when running, let’s first establish what it actually is. Chafing happens when your skin rubs against itself or clothing repeatedly causing irritation or redness in some cases even bleeding ouch! Although common areas affected include inner thighs, genital area, underarms and nipples but any part of your body that experiences friction while running could also be susceptible.

Common Precautions Before You Run

The good news is there are several steps you can take before heading out for your run that will make all the difference:

Choose the right clothes

When it comes to choosing what to wear during a run – consider wearing sports gear designed specifically for exercising which tend to have streamlined seams and more importantly are moisture-wicking material absorbent cotton t-shirts soaked with sweat never helped anyone (except maybe if playing dodgeball) Additionally select seamless underwear without tags – no matter how much we love our frilly lingerie set from La Perla but at some point comfort takes priority over fashion as well.

Lube Up

Chaff-free creams like Body Glide help minimize irritation caused by constant rubbing between fabric & skin mostly used by marathon runners they swear by its effectiveness plus it’s easy & less messy application makes sure we don’t end up feeling uncomfortable mid-run. 

Save Face

It goes without saying keep facial hair short or shave altogether especially beard n’ stash combos….. whilst suave in the start but all hell can break loose near the end of a run. The constant scratch scratches from facial hair rubbing against your sweaty face or neck is quite unbearable to say the least.

What Are Some Chafing Remedies?

Chafing remedies are significant as running with chaffed areas can cloud our focus on fitness goals as its sheer pain distracts us so here are some solutions you probably have not heard of:

SKIN SLICK Spray-On

In an effort to stop friction & increased blood circulation for ultra-runners, SIXTUFITs line created this product focusing on preventing skin-on-skin, fabric-on-skin or equipment-on-skin discomfort.  It comes as a handy spray which means less mess and even application.

Zinc oxide tape

If you experience severe chafing while running like abscesses then zinc oxide tape might provide relief. Typically utilized after surgery to protect wounds- it creates perfect barrier against sagging baggy skin & any impact that may create further damage between clothes and body parts which would be trapped otherwise. 

Baby Powder/Baking soda

The simplest remedy yet! Dust powder under arms feet sensitive areas before heading out for your run & watch these regions remain dry throughout- remember do not skip applying where they sweat!

Compression shorts

Compression apparel is designed specifically for athletic use aimed at comfortable snug fit limiting unnecessary movement during exercise – this specially goes for long runs (15+ miles) when chaffage risks get higher, a good quality pair will make sure moisture remains absorbed keeping benefits multiples i.e reduced muscle fatigue and soreness.

What if All Else Fails?

While generally self-treatment along with prevention should suffice regarding irritation stemming from running; sometimes there’s more going on than just simple inflamed movements that won’t go away unless properly treated hence we’ve listed below some alternative aides widely practiced. Let’s dive in:

Consult your therapist

If your recurrent chafing is leaving you demotivated, contacting a licensed physical therapist can prove beneficial as they will thoroughly examine the areas affected and even scour through past medical history to prescribe effective remedies.

Hydrocortisone cream

This is an itchy zone fighter – hydrocortisone Cream AKA nature’s lube’. Consisting of corticosteroids of cortisol which reduce inflammation n’ redness; but must be used sparingly so as not to thin your skin out.

Anti-Chafe Balms/Sticks

Specially designed for runners exposed to repetitive body motion such products don’t just help treat underlying pain also act towards keeping that discomfort at bay during exercise sessions. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, while preventing chafing before heading out on a run definitely takes some planning & self-awareness it’s completely worth what we get – heath & wellness! Following some or all these tips will diminish our frustration, allowing us to focus less on hindrances arising due to friction between clothes-skin causing irritations instead put all energy towards focused fitness endeavors.

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