Abrasions ~ Ouch!!!

[CherylMD]

This is probably more a question to the ladies out there, but what do you do to stop, or reduce the abrasive action of your sports bra's/tops from rubbing the top of ribcage areas and just under bustline? I am afraid to say I am kind of like Dolly Parton in that dept. It's no fun!

As I have increased my running from 2 to 3 times a week to try and get fit for Run Melbourne, I'm struggling with sores that are not having time to heal before I run again. I've used vaseline, but it's not doing much by the 3rd run of the week and I need to be brave when I apply it, as the sting is really aggresive

Any advice would truly be appreciated.

[Em]

I am the anti Dolly yet I will still get rubbing from my crop top when I get into runs over 10km, I just apply a liberal amount of Body Glide and that takes care of any chaffing.

[kazd]

I use an Asics product called Chafe Free and it's worked well so far.

[gymbunny87]

Hi CherylMD - I find that switching bra types every run works.

Apply as much vaso / body glide / pawpaw ointment as u can stand!

At the moment i have an extremely large and painful abrasion at the back of my left armpit. I stupidly used a phone/mp3 arm case/holder on sunday when I did my first 21.2km run, and have thus created the worst chaffage that i have ever experienced!

Doesn't hurt to wear long sleeved tops though so I guess chaffing in winter has its advantages.

[CherylMD]

Thanks for the advice. I suspected that my bra being that it is underwired is the main cause. I think I will look into getting a few different ones and see if they help. Also, I will try the creams suggested. I'm being a little baby today and decided to allow myself another day to heal rather than run!

[gymbunny87]

dw cheryl. i generally feel like SH*T today so i wont be running either.

i guess thats okay as i have run sun, mon, tues (twice) and wed this week.

[tiger boy]

Cheryl - not being an expert on sports bra's (although I'm willing to have a look at them for you, all in the name of research you understand ), I would imagine that like any other piece of running gear, shoes, socks, singlet etc., you would need to have something that fits properly, and fits your needs.
I'm sure some of the girls can give advice on which brands are better suited for keeping the girly bits secured and chafe free.

[Kat can run]

I am a bigger bust female and I always wear a fitted crop top on top of my bra and under my t-shirt when I go out for a run. Helps but now I am getting abrasions from my heart rate monitor strap. If it's not one thing its another.

[hvls]

Guys just don't appreciate how difficult it is to be a girl!!!

[runningaway]

Body glide for the run, then pawpaw cream afterwards for the healing. I have used a gel called solsite for chafe from a wetsuit on my neck (and more recently for the gravel rash on my face when I came off my bike) and it is AMAZING- but I imagine you would have to put it on and not wear a bra for a while to let it work its magic.

[sassycil]

I posted on my blog about this very topic. The shower after the run hurts like Dante's seven circles of hell.
I have been afflicted with the dreaded underboob chafe....It don't matter how big or small your girls are.
A liberal smear of bodyglide is good. Something tight over the top of the bra is also good.
Most "seasoned" (hah) runners have a callus there. I could show you but I would need more alcohol in my system. (or less blood in my alcohol system )
http://sassydrcil.wordpress.com/2010/02 ... treatment/

[sassycil]

P.S some girls swear by the Enell bra. May have to get one on the net.

[The Turtle]

I have one of those Enell bras, and I reckon they're great. But at the bottom of the clasps the stiffer bit rubs endlessly. My solution? a fabric bandaid on the spot before I go out and start sweating. The downside is those bras are the "compression" type, so you look like a "one-boob-wonder" - but they do a great job!

I have another sports bra that works great, but again, there are always some spots that chafe. Once you get to know the spots, I put a band aid there before I go running. They stick well, and no chafing!

[jojogoslow]

I have a big bust (14E) and i wear a good solid underwire sports bra (Berlei UltraSport, currently) with a cheapie cotton crop top from target over the top. I still chafe a little on the ribs, but a good smear of vaseline helps a lot, as does minimising actual movement (hence the two bras, daggy as it is ).

[margot]

I had never used any of these products and just suffered the chafing (I have a nice scar on my ribcage that I don't think will ever go!) but on Saturday I put vaseline all over the place and after my 2 hour 15 run, I had NO chafing!! Amazing!!! It really does work!