One of the most annoying things for runners is when chafing occurs. The last thing you want is to be in great physical condition and to be hampered by the irritation on your skin as a result of chafing.
The only way for the irritation to subside is if you rest and let it heal. But if you rest and don’t run, you will start to lose your conditioning.
How does chafing occur?
Chafing occurs from the friction caused by continous contact during your running movements. This could be the contact with your skin and fabric from the clothing that you wear.
This can occur in different parts of the body. It could be around the legs, thighs, groin, or ribs depending on where the friction is regularly occuring.
How can you prevent chafing?
- Avoid wearing fabric that is likely to irritate your skin.
- Hydrate before you run to prevent excessive sweating.
- Add vaseline to the chafing-prone areas.
- Consider adding coconut or baby oil to chafing-prone areas.
- Avoid running in extreme heat regularly, as your body will sweat to regulate the body’s temperature.
- If chafing occurs on your nipples, place band-aids over the top of them
