Despite its rather odd-sounding name, “joggers’ nipple” is actually a common chafing condition among runners, especially those who go long distances. ‘At the end of a marathon, you will see a number of people running with bloodstains on the front of their jogging shirts,” says Rodney Basler, M.D. Caused by rough fabric, you see it “ten to one in men over women, who are protected by bras,” says Basler.

The following tips from should help you avoid joggers’ nipple.

For Women:

• When running, wear a soft, supportive, well-fitting bra.

For Men:

• If weather permits, run without a shirt.
• Choose shirts of soft, natural material, such as cotton, rather than more- irritating synthetic fabrics.
• Before running, put a thick cream on your nipples for lubrication.
• If all else fails, apply an adhesive strip, cut so it just covers the nipple and areola ( the dark area surrounding the nipple). Scaling down the size of the bandage in this way will help prevent tape burn and painful hair pulling.

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Whether you’re a man or a woman, chafing doesn’t have to cramp your style. Here are several simple steps you can take to alleviate the problem and prevent it from happening again:

Keep your clothes clean. This is especially important for the outfits you jog or exercise in. “Dirt and sweat can accumulate in fabric and act as an irritant,” says Dvorine. Choose a mild cleanser, and wash clothes frequently.

Go easy on the bleach. Bleach can irritate chafed skin. “I’ve seen this particularly in people who do martial arts,” says Dvorine. “They will often wash their uniforms in bleach and may not wash the bleach out thoroughly enough.” Avoid bleaching your clothes, or at least make sure the bleach is thoroughly rinsed out.

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Does your skin—or your clothing—rub you the  wrong way? If so, you’re probably suffering from a condition called chafing. While chafing is rarely a serious problem, nothing can take the spring out of your step like sore, irritated, chafed skin.

Chafing is a condition in which the skin’s normal balancing act is disturbed. Normally, the body constantly sheds skin cells, a few at a time, and replaces them with new skin. “During chafing, persistent friction against the skin rubs off more of the skin’s outer layer than the skin is able to replenish,” says Rodney Basler, M.D., dermatologist and assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Redness and irritation are the first telltale signs of chafing. As the problem worsens, so does the pain and aggravation to the skin. “Left untreated, or if the area becomes wet through constant sweat or wetting, the skin may split and ooze or even bleed,” says William Dvorine, M.D., dermatologist and chief of dermatology at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. Ultimately, infection may set in. Fortunately, chafing rarely gets that bad.

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