When doing sports it is important to know the body in order to prevent chafing. Sometimes, its appearance in certain areas has more to do with the type of body of each one than with the size of the athlete. Fortunately, with the right sportswear and techniques, these uncomfortable rubs can be avoided. Thus, it will be easier to carry out the training without worrying about skin irritations.
3 tips to say goodbye to chafing
To prevent chafing and say goodbye to them forever, you must take into account where on the body they appear and the reason why they occur. Typically, they overlap the seams of clothing and in areas prone to friction, such as the armpits, thighs, and groin. Although this type of irritation is associated with overweight people, the reality is that all athletes can suffer from it. The sport that is practiced and the area where sweat accumulates are of great importance.
Choose clothes according to the sport that is practiced
One of the vital aspects to prevent chafing is to have the right accessories. It is common to see athletes who go to the gym with gym clothes that are not made for the exercises they are going to perform. This can cause the seams of the garments, together with the sweat, to cause the first irritations on the skin.
Another aspect to take into account when choosing clothes is that you have to avoid clothes that accumulate moisture. In this case, cotton clothing is the worst. Fabrics designed to disperse moisture become the athlete's best allies.
Protect the areas of the body most prone to chafing
To prevent chafing on the thighs, it is best to opt for leggings or compression leggings . It is possible to use other types of garments, such as shorts and baggy pants. The most important thing is that with the selection that is made, the fabric of the garment is considered. Those that are free of seams in the thigh area are the most appropriate.
As for underwear, again it is better to avoid cotton and opt for garments that wick away moisture. For this, it is best to select combinations of synthetic products. This will prevent chafing in the groin and buttocks, as these are areas where sweat accumulates.
When it comes to avoiding armpit rubbing, in the case of women, bras have to be sporty and have to be correctly adjusted. As for the shirts, it is better if they are made of resistant fabrics, but do not have seams that can dig into the skin.
For the rubbing of the heels, the most appropriate thing is to opt for good sports shoes that fit the foot from the first moment. The ideal is to buy them in the afternoon, since at the end of the day the feet are more swollen. In addition, when trying them it is important that they wear the socks that are usually used in training .
Try to make the skin as dry as possible
Both when it comes to preventing chafing and healing subsequent wounds, it is important that the skin is as dry or lubricated as possible. For this reason, it is important to use talcum powder and deodorants. There are certain areas of the body where it is difficult to keep them dry.
In this case, you can choose to use products that create a protective layer for friction, such as Vaseline or protective cream bars. If you are going to choose to use these types of products, you have to avoid perfumes or ingredients that can damage the skin.
To keep the epidermis as dry as possible and avoid excessive sweating, it is also a good idea to do sports in places that are well ventilated. Another crucial aspect is to avoid places where moisture accumulates. If you tend to sweat a lot, you might consider changing clothes midway through your workout.
How to cure chafing when they have already appeared
If, despite having followed the previous tips, chafing has appeared on the skin, a series of basic tips must be followed. Doing sports in a proper way will help prevent the formation of wounds and scars.
It is best to try to change the kit by wearing looser clothes, but that protect the area. It is also a good idea to take a break from the sport until the appearance of the chafing improves . If the chafing progresses slowly, you can always apply products to the area. It is necessary to be very careful to try to accelerate its healing.
Product Application
Various oils containing vitamin A and D can be applied. Coconut oil, aloe vera, or shea butter are effective. It is recommended to apply them before going to sleep, since during the night there will be no rubbing and the skin regenerates faster.
If the area is very hot and the inflammation caused by friction does not go down, cold or ice packs should be applied . This is somewhat beneficial in speeding up the healing process. It is also advisable to avoid the use of soaps or creams that contain alcohol or perfumes that can cause further irritation to the skin, worsening the wounds.
Finally, in the event that the home remedies and the previous care do not take effect, it will be necessary to consult a specialist. If no action is taken, wounds can form that can become infected. In most cases, a visit to the primary care physician or a dermatologist is sufficient.
These are the home remedies and tips that are most recommended to prevent chafing and the solutions that can be applied. When putting care into practice, the area and dimensions must be taken into account to pay special attention to the affected part.
