I know... fun topic, right? I'm expecting lots of comments from the peanut gallery. But chafing is a fact of the running life, and one we become rudely awakened to when we do our first long run. Chafing and I have a history. We've danced together before. And no, chafing is not reserved for those of us with a little extra "fluff"... even the tiniest of runners experience chafing.
Chafing is caused by good ol' fashioned friction - fabric on skin or skin on skin. Moisture makes it even worse. And especially when you sweat so much that you have a layer of salt on your skin... then it feels like sandpaper rubbing.
I most commonly get chafing around my bra line (especially in the back), between my thighs (campfires have been started with less friction), and, the one that gets us a little personal but I'm gonna share anyhow... between my butt cheeks. Yes, seriously. Other common areas are under the arms and nipples, which are especially common with men (nothing worse than seeing a guy cross the finish line with two blood-stained targets on his shirt).
What to do to prevent it? Make body glide your best friend. Seriously, this stuff is magic! It comes in a deoderant-like stick and you rub it on the areas that are most "sensitive". If you want, you can also use vaseline (although I like the thick consistency of the body glide better). You'll be less likely to chaf if you wear form-fitting clothing. The looser it is, the more it's rubbing back and forth. Also, stay away from cotton if you can! The synthetic, moisture-wicking fabrics will help keep you dry and minimize chafing. Women, make sure your sports bra has smooth seams (and make sure it fits snug). And one that I never thought about until it happened to me... make sure there are no tags in your clothing. I ran a half-marathon in a pair of shorts once, and the tag left a rectangular hole in my back. It was painful! You also want to stay hydrated... that'll keep the amount of salt left on your skin to a minimum... which will reduce the awful sandpaper effect.
As for treatment, you can treat it like you would any other cut or scrape. Clean it and apply an antiseptic to keep it from getting infected.
So what's your experience with chafing? Have you ever chafed in a spot that I didn't mention? Do you have any other prevention methods?
22 comments:
Ah - body glide, my best friend when it comes to running, and honestly I think it was my first running related purchase - even before new shoes. I totally can relate to the butt check spot - got in the shower one day and screamed so loud my hubby thought someone was trying to kill me ;) I don't have this issue, but if you sweat a lot on your feet sometimes baby powder/corn starch can be helpful.
Haha, great topic! I've only experienced chafing maybe three times. Once was during my period, and I was wearing a pad (can't be too careful!). OUCH. My thighs are big, but the only time I had chafing there was during my first half marathon race. I think I chafed one other time, but I really don't remember. The last time I chafed was September 18 (at a race). I don't do anything to prevent chafing because I seem to be immune. :)
okay, I just read the first comment and remember my third time chafing. I decided to try going commando on a run (one of my friends recommended that). Um, ouch, butt cheeks!!!
Body Glide is nothing to me now...I've discovered the magic of Two Toms roll on. Seriously, anyone who's tried my Two Toms has said it's the bestest product evah!
I'm not affiliated with the company, I'm just a loyal fan.
Body Glide and I became friends this summer. I have major chafing in the thigh region.
I always cry a little when I see guys with the bloody nipples. And cringe.
Great post. I've only had chaffing once in my running life. Bra line in front. yuck.
However, when I ran my 50 miler I got talking with a lady who had a chaffing location I HAD NEVER thought of. EVER. She was doing a 100 miler - yes, 100 miles. The chaffed area . . .
. . . . her bum crack. I had never even thought of that location but it kinda makes sense when you add sweat . . and oh ya . . .100 miles. ;)
Different sensitive areas for cyclists but same basic issues. I use a product called DZ Nuts. Another popular one is Chamois Butt'r. Looks like cyclists get all the good anti-chafing product names!
Yep, between my butt cheeks too, in super long runs (luckily no issues with the marathon though, huh). I don't really do anything to prevent it though, because the thought of putting body glide there is just wrong.
The band of my sports bra is another area, but easily prevented!
I'm sitting here at work and seriously laughed out loud three times reading this post. I think the guy next to me officially thinks I'm insane.
Body Glide has become my bestest friend while running. For some reason training for my first half, I never chafed. Guess I was just lucky. Training for the full though? Wow, that first jump into the shower was a RUDE awakening when water/soap hit the raw areas. And umm...I'm glad I'm not the only one that had the butt chafe....
I had my first chafe a few weeks ago when I thought it'd be a bright idea to wear shorts. My thunder thighs ate my shorts right up and I had a nasty red rash between my thighs. UN- PLEASANT. I will never run in shorts again unless they're bike shorts. I do well in pants and leggings. I do get chafing under my armpit area, but I can get through that by not wearing a bra. I'm a SAH mom anyway and nobody care if I let the girls roam free.
Thank you for posting on this!! I needed it. :)
Yep, butt cheek chafer here. My husband laughed after a guy at our Fleet Feet mentioned nipple guards or BodyGlide- "who the f chafes their nips?!" <-Direct quote from him, the same guy who two days later experienced chafing during our first HM and the following day called me from work saying he did the unthinkable- put Band-Aids over his sore, raw nipples. LOL!!!
I get chafed on the underside of my arms where it rubs against my singlet, and have been burned by a fuel belt that worked its way under my shirt. I had a scar on my back from that for about a year before it faded. BG is required for any distance if I'm wearing regular shorts - my thighs are, oh, let's call them "generous." I also saved a friend's nipples by having him replace the band-aids that were always sweating off with BG.
I don't wanna jinx myself but I've never had bad chafing. Of course I use BodyGlide generously. Love it!
Oh my, the pic of that guys bleeding nipples made me hold on to mine. ouch! haha!
I always chafe under the bra line. Body glide or lots of vaseline really helps =)
I love bodyglide! Good stuff!
I had never heard of glide for my first half marathon. completed the whole thing without an issue. Now if I forget it I am in BIG trouble. Between my thighs is the worst. This past weekend my heart rate monitor chest strap gave me a nasty spot.
Bleeding Nipple guy makes me cringe. I've never had chaffing before but this is good to know for future reference. :) Here's to hoping for no chaffing. It is a fun word to type too. :)
I've decided that the only good that comes from chafing is that I'll know where to put the glide the next time I run! Now, if I could only remember to put it on!! I almost always chafe under my arm where my ipod arm holder is. And the most unpleasant? Wearing a pair of capris that did NOT have flat seams. Yes. Chafed right in my underwear line near the hooha. Seriously. Ouch!
I love body glide! It's totally like my best friend for long runs! :0)
One thing that works well to help recover from chafing, in my opinion, is washing with Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap. WARNING: It hurts like holy hell! But afterwards it feels a lot better. I learned this when I was in the field (where I always use Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap) after hiking for a couple miles in wet board shorts that had a seam (I also now have fancy, seamless board shorts). I ended up scabbing over from that chafing incident, but the swelling was so bad that even after I was out of the board shorts, walking was uncomfortable. If you can live through the washing, I find that the Dr. Bronner's and cold water takes away a lot of the inflammation.
haha! I am so glad im not the only one that chaffed in between the cheeks!! lol... i did it once and was like, woah... weird! It was a tad embarassing even though no one knew lol...
What a great post. Thank you for all the advice. I am definitely getting some.
I felt uncomfortable from my ratty old shorts after my very first C25K run last year. I immediately went out and bought cheap cotton Danskin shorts from Wal-Mart. That did okay for the first few weeks while I was still trying to just run. But now I always wear running skirts and so far I've only had chaffing twice! (Once during a hot, sweaty training run, the other during a wet 10K race.) I feel like I've been pretty lucky so far. Now I will go knock on wood to help avoid jinxing myself!
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