How to Stop Chafing

Don't let chaffing get in the way of your workout plans. Dry skin combined with the wrong clothing results in the skin getting rubbed during your workout. The repeated rubbing then wears down your skin and causes painful red rash. Problem areas such as your sports bra line, the inside of your thighs and armpits are the most common areas as the skin here is particularly sensitive. Prevention combined with treatment for these problem areas will keep your skin in good shape.

Things You'll Need

• Anti-bacterial ointment
• Skin lubricant

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply some anti-bacterial ointment to any chaffed areas and cover with bandages. Avoid exercising for a couple of days so that these areas can heal.

• 2

  Change your workout clothes. Choose shorts and shirts that do not have tags or seams as these can rub against your skin. Quick-drying synthetic materials are better than cotton. Cotton stays wet when you sweat and will exacerbate the problem. Also make sure that the clothes fit you properly. Overly tight fitting clothes can put unwanted pressure against your skin while overly loose clothing results in the extra material rubbing against you.

• 3

  Put some skin lubricant on the tender areas that often chafe. For instance, if the underwear band chafes your waist then put some lubricant on this area before putting on your clothes.

• 4

  Take a shower after exercising and apply plenty of moisturizer to your skin. Similar to when your lips get chapped, dry skin causes friction and is more susceptible to cuts and chafing.