Chafing and blistering are skin irritations that are usually caused by moisture (sweat) and/or friction (skin-on-skin or skin-clothing rubbing). When both moisture and friction are present, the result is even more acute skin irritation.

Just about everyone has had chafed skin or blisters at one time or another, but athletes experience these skin irritations much more frequently. The more demanding the sport, the more likely it is that you will experience chafing or blistering on some part of your body.
If you are a moderate or serious athlete, it is not really a question of “if” your skin will chafe or blister, but more a question of when, and how badly. There are, however, ways to minimize or prevent it.

Blisters most often occur on the feet where the two main culprits, moisture and friction, are often present, although they can occur on other areas on your body. Chafing happens most often on the inner thighs, groin area, underarms, nipples, and along jog bra lines, waistband and tank top marks.

That’s a tough one because it is so subjective. These irritations of the skin can run the gamut from being just mildly annoying, all the way up to debilitating. While that may seem extreme, many serious athletes have had to temporarily stop their sport due to these irritations. And make no mistake, irritated skin is not something to ignore, as it can be both painful and potentially serious.

While there are many remedies to help relieve the discomfort of chafed or blistered skin, the old saying of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is really the best way to deal with the problem. You will want to take preemptive measures to greatly reduce or eliminate the problem so that you can enjoy your activity without pain and discomfort. Make sure you have proper fitting shoes and clothing, ideally designed for your sport. Wear moisture-wicking materials rather than cotton in order to reduce the moisture on your skin. And of course we recommend ChafeX , our unique proprietary blend of mostly naturally derived ingredients that has been researched and tested with serious athletes, including marathon and ultra-runners.

Skin easily becomes blistered, chafed or irritated from constant rubbing and friction from clothes and shoes, as well as when moisture is trapped on the skin. ChafeX works to prevent these skin insults using our innovative MicroLayer Technology formula which actually emulates the skin, resulting in stronger, healthier skin for extended pain-free activity. Just about every other product we know of that claims to prevent chafing and blistering has similar ingredients (waxes, silicone, lanolin and/or petroleum) that only rest on the skin. Their effectiveness, if any at all, is usually very temporary. ChafeX does not contain any of these ingredients. When developing ChafeX , we started with the scientific understanding that your body is protected by layer after layer of integrated skin tissue. As more skin cells form at the lower levels, protective Keratin forms on top layers. These exfoliate daily, renewing your skin. But during exercise, moisture, sweat, clothing and friction cause the skin to exfoliate too many layers , too quickly, including protective Keratin. The result is tender skin exposed to chafing, blistering and other skin irritations. Using innovative chemistry, Simply Better Laboratories created our unique Layers that Last formula that supports your skin’s natural protection mechanism.

Just as you train your body and mind for athletic competition, it is important to train your skin as well to prevent irritations. There are many variables involved, including the time engaged in athletic activity, ambient temperature, relative humidity, clothing, shoes and your own personal susceptibility to skin irritations. Start by applying ChafeX to irritated-prone areas, insuring complete coverage of the skin to be protected. Massage into all skin areas for 1 to 2 minutes; note that it will feel temporarily tacky, which shows ChafeX is bonding with your skin. If you engage in strenuous exercise 5 times per week or more, we recommend application daily, even on the off-days, as it will help to train and condition your skin. If your exercise regimen is less than 5 times per week, apply ChafeX each day, for 2-3 days prior to and including the day of strenuous activity. Regardless of how often you apply ChafeX, always apply at least 5 to 15 minutes before engaging in strenuous exercise.

The best tips we can provide have come from marathoners and ultra runners that have used ChafeX and they all seem to focus on proper application in order to get the best results. We’d like to share them with you:

  1. Ensure skin is completely dry before applying.
  2. Apply over the entire skin area prone to irritation.
  3. Massage into skin for 1-2 minutes. Skin will become tacky at first, then smooth when fully bonded.
  4. After applying, allow ChafeX to bond with your skin for 5-15 minutes before exercising.
  5. While ChafeX has proven to be very durable, lasting for most athletes through even the most intensive and extensive activity, under extreme conditions some athletes may need to re-apply during the athletic event. If you start to develop “hot spots”, you may want to re-apply to avoid any further skin irritation.

By using ChafeX according to the above guidelines, and adjusting if your exercise regimen changes, you should avoid most skin irritations. If you have any questions, comments, or tips you have discovered while using ChafeX that you would like to share, please feel free to email us at info@chafex.com

anti chafing