Ladies only! please help
nicolejo143
Posts: 214 Member
My sports bra recently started chafing me so bad! Today was horrible. I have a big red line across the front of my ribs where the band was. Its painful to touch right now, it feels like a sunburn. It looks my bra tried to cut me in half! A few days a similar thing happened except the band had actually slipped up and chaffed my boob instead of my ribs. I'm not sure why this is happening to me, its never happened before in the past. All of my bras are the same brand, model and size. They aren't that old either, like they aren't stretched out or anything. This just started happening this past week and I'm not sure what has changed other than I slightly upped my milage. Does anybody else have this problem? How do I prevent chafing? Also, is there something I can do to make this feel less horrible in the meantime?
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When I started running long distances, I had to stop buying cheap, cotton sports bras and started buying ones made of nicer fabric that were actually made for running. RunningWarehouse.com has a great sale section.
Not much you can do about it after the fact - if you give it a few days, the rubbed skin will dry out, probably scab over, and stop hurting. On really long runs or runs in the rain, I like to apply BodyGlide to my skin under the straps and bottom band of my sports bras.0 -
I got nothing for you. I sometimes get the redline on my ribs but I think its from my older bra...
Vaseline should work just as well as BodyGlide and is way cheaper. I use it for the Avon Walks0 -
Usually get this after 2 hour+ runs. I got nothing for you lol0
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I practically have scars from this. Vaseline helps a bit, but the best advice is to find at least one good bra that is comfy and causes the least friction and wear it for all of your long runs. I have a sports bra that clasps in the back rather than the traditional pull-over-the -head type and it seems to have less elastic and causes the least amount of chafing.0
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I've started to get cuts on my boobs. I tried body glide and it didn't help. I'm buying a new sports bra. I'm hoping that will help.0
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I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue. Between the rubbing from the bra and the heart rate monitor it gets hard to focus on running when all I can think about is how much my chest/ribs hurt. I was buying my sports bras at Marshalls and TJ Maxx, but I think now I'll try spending a little more to see if it will help alleviate the issue.0
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I went through a LOT of sports bras before I found one that doesn't chafe, so I bought about 8 of them. Even so, I get a red line if I'm going ~15+. Moving Comfort destroyed me. It's really unfortunate that it's a trial and error thing, since they're so expensive and there's no way you can return a bra that you've run in for 2 hours.
BodyGlide helps but doesn't totally solve the problem for me. You can also take chapstick or a mini tub of vaseline with you and apply midway through.0 -
When I was in the process of losing a large amount of weight I had to buy new running bras quite often. And as been offered already, I use BodyGlide in those areas that will chafe (even with a good running bra) for longer runs. Our local running store has a woman who knows how to correctly fit a running bra and since consulting with her I haven't had a problem.0
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When I started running long distances, I had to stop buying cheap, cotton sports bras and started buying ones made of nicer fabric that were actually made for running.
^This. I started having chafing problems training for my first half. I bought one designed for running and was lucky that the first one worked for me (Moving Comfort Fiona). I ran my half with no chafing. Like someone else mentioned, this one hooks in the back. I did start getting chafing again once it started to wear out.
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I agree with bodyglide. I have scars from before I realized I needed it. After the fact...it sounds weird, but diaper rash cream helps. Or if you don't have small kids around and don't want to buy diaper rash cream, aquafor will help some.0
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When I started running long distances, I had to stop buying cheap, cotton sports bras and started buying ones made of nicer fabric that were actually made for running.
^This. I started having chafing problems training for my first half. I bought one designed for running and was lucky that the first one worked for me (Moving Comfort Fiona). I ran my half with no chafing. Like someone else mentioned, this one hooks in the back. I did start getting chafing again once it started to wear out.
Body glide is my best friend for long runs. I swear I have three or four "bottles" of it laying around the house. I also second the moving comfort Fiona...LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
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^This. I started having chafing problems training for my first half. I bought one designed for running and was lucky that the first one worked for me (Moving Comfort Fiona). I ran my half with no chafing. Like someone else mentioned, this one hooks in the back. I did start getting chafing again once it started to wear out.Roxiegirl2008 wrote: »Body glide is my best friend for long runs. I swear I have three or four "bottles" of it laying around the house. I also second the moving comfort Fiona...LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
Thats actually the same bra I have! Its been good to me for a long time, so last year I actually bought 3 new ones to replace my older ones. But now that same bra is killing me for some reason.
I am also large chested which makes my sports bra shopping more expensive and more limited. 0 -
Is there any chance you are losing or gaining weight? Even losing weight could be the problem, if your boobs and ribs aren't holding the band in place anymore.0
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I love Nike as far as sports bras go. But chafing comes with running, especially longer distances. Vaseline maybe? I use Burts Bees hand cream sometimes in chafing areas. I also have a permanent sideboob "tattoo" from chafing. I like to think of it as a trophy or battle scar. But I have little boobs. And I'm grateful for that now that I run long distances. Probably not the best person to ask for bra advice.0
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nicolejo143 wrote: »My sports bra recently started chafing me so bad! Today was horrible. I have a big red line across the front of my ribs where the band was. Its painful to touch right now, it feels like a sunburn. It looks my bra tried to cut me in half! A few days a similar thing happened except the band had actually slipped up and chaffed my boob instead of my ribs. I'm not sure why this is happening to me, its never happened before in the past. All of my bras are the same brand, model and size. They aren't that old either, like they aren't stretched out or anything. This just started happening this past week and I'm not sure what has changed other than I slightly upped my milage. Does anybody else have this problem? How do I prevent chafing? Also, is there something I can do to make this feel less horrible in the meantime?
1) Are you wearing a correct bra? You mentioned you bought 3 new ones based on your previous experience. However if you have bought same size and if meanwhile you have either gained or lost weight around chest area you probably want to look into it.
2) If you are wearing correct fitted bra, apply body glide prior to run
3) For already aggravated and chafed skin apply a good Coconut Oil at night prior to sleeping and wear loose tee. Let the chafed part of the skin breathe
4) When selecting a Coconut Oil please, please read the ingredients. The only ingredient it should have is "Coconut Oil".
IMHO the best bra for women for running is Moving Comfort which anyway you are using. However here is my little experience - I wear Moving's Vixen and there was this just one, just one bra that I bought that just won't fit. Turns out that entire manufactured lot was defective. This is just one time that it has ever happened for me in my "relation" with Moving Comfort.
EDTA : Moving Comfort recommends Maia (has a hook behind) or Vixen for C and Ds.
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the same thing happened to me after i'd lost some weight, and increased my mileage on my long runs. i had to buy new, pricier sports bras. while waiting for it to heal, i slathered it with neosporin and covered it up with bandaids when i ran. i also moved my heart rate monitor down below the band of the sports bra.0
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Yep, the same thing happens to me. It's the 1 thing that I dislike out of the 100 amazing things about the bras I get. I just use vaseline for anything longer than an hour and slather it all over my underboobs and ribcage where the bottom of my bra goes. (Note: I also use gratuitous vaseline on my feet and inner thighs, and I am mostly chafe/blister free for months now.)0
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I think it sounds like the bras just don't fit any more. Especially if the band rode up and chafed your boob.0
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Yeah this also happened to me when I lost some weight. The girls were bouncing more and bam - so much pain. I bought new bras (same model) in a smaller size and no more major problems. I aquaphor around any places that have been hot spots in the past before long runs. Also taking off your bra ASAP after a workout is helpful.0
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I use Shock Absorber running bras and have found them fantastic but not the cheapest. Nothing moves (and I'm still pretty big on top). I have found though that they need replacing as often as my trainers. Who said running was a cheap sport?!0
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What's worked so far for me is, besides wearing a well-fitting sports bra with wicking material and no underwire, is putting deodorant/antiperspirant around the band and strap area. My deodorant is an "invisible solid" type and it's prevented any marks/chafing so far, up to half-marathon distance.0
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Just an update: I did two things that seemed to have helped. One is that I bought the body glide and slathered it all over. It also worked really great for preventing my thighs from chafing! The second thing is that I fastened my bra on the tightest setting. This seems to have prevented it from sliding up but now instead it digs into my skin and leaves some indents, but it doesn't chafe. I also measured myself and I lost another half inch off of my chest, so I will probably need a new size soon.0
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You can lube the area where chafing occurs, or put tape (athletic, kt, rocktape). Also, if your bra rode up, its too big. If you use the pullover kind, it should take some effort to get in and out of. It shouldn't be able to move around.0
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When I started running long distances, I had to stop buying cheap, cotton sports bras and started buying ones made of nicer fabric that were actually made for running. RunningWarehouse.com has a great sale section.
Not much you can do about it after the fact - if you give it a few days, the rubbed skin will dry out, probably scab over, and stop hurting. On really long runs or runs in the rain, I like to apply BodyGlide to my skin under the straps and bottom band of my sports bras.
^ This. I'm working on investing in quality gear for running after buying a lot of crap. Long runs do not like cotton. at. all. I chafed horribly and got a sunburn two weeks ago after a 12 mile run. I was not a happy camper, lol. Went out and bought a new tank AND sunscreen. lol.
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Sun?When I started running long distances, I had to stop buying cheap, cotton sports bras and started buying ones made of nicer fabric that were actually made for running. RunningWarehouse.com has a great sale section.
Not much you can do about it after the fact - if you give it a few days, the rubbed skin will dry out, probably scab over, and stop hurting. On really long runs or runs in the rain, I like to apply BodyGlide to my skin under the straps and bottom band of my sports bras.
^ This. I'm working on investing in quality gear for running after buying a lot of crap. Long runs do not like cotton. at. all. I chafed horribly and got a sunburn two weeks ago after a 12 mile run. I was not a happy camper, lol. Went out and bought a new tank AND sunscreen. lol.
What is this sun you speak of?
And thank tops?
What are those?!
o.o
(I kid. But I'm in Maine and it's cold and just finally getting sunny. But not particularly warm)
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I switched to compression bras and that totally solved my chafing problems. I just got the Champion brand from Target - they weren't expensive at all. They can be hard to get on because they don't have hooks, but they work great.
As others said, no cotton, Bodyglide is useful.0 -
This happened to me a lot when I upped my mileage. Once your sports bra is wet from the sweat and there are many more miles to go, it can be horrible! I would suggest getting different sports bras that won't chafe. I went from cotton bras to these bras from under armor and the rubbing has stopped so far.https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/armour-bra-20-c/pid1252160-001
If nothing else works or you don't want to get a new bra yet, try large waterproof bandaids over the area that rubs. Bodyglide never seemed to do the trick for me, but the bandaids will always stay on and prevents the rub. But it's only a temporary solution since you have continually get more bandaids.0 -
I am on the larger chested side and I stopped even thinking about a sports bra that doesn't clasp and come in regular bra sizes. I used to pretend S,M,L sizing worked but I really don't think it does. I do get some lines here and there but really no chaffing. I agree with others, it was a bit of trial and error but I found one that works and until it proves otherwise, its the only one I will buy.
As far as dealing with the irritation you have, I got a totally random open sore actually on my breast several weeks before my first half marathon two years ago and I used lots of first aid cream and let it out to dry (didn't wear a bra around the house) as much as possible and I couldn't believe how quickly it healed.
Good luck, don't let crappy sports bras keep you from running!!!0 -
My money was on weight loss. Then I saw your update, and it sounds like that was the case
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A running bra should be tight. Think compression. Some large chested women wear two.0
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