How to Prevent Sports Bra Chafing
Posted on July 17, 2025
prevent bra chafing, sports bra chafing, Sports Bras
Support, movement, and freedom. That’s what the right sports bra should offer. But when your sports bar is chafing, it’s painful and gets in the way of enjoying your workouts. Whether you’re experiencing chafing under the breasts, around the bra band, or near the underarms, we want you to know that you’re not stuck with sports bras that chafe! With the right fit, fabric, and a few smart strategies, it is possible to prevent chafing and get back to enjoying your activities!
Let’s break down the common causes of bra chafe, and how to stop it before it starts.
What Causes Sports Bra Chafing?
Chafing happens when repeated friction, commonly from fabric, seams, or sweat, rubs against the skin.
During high-impact activities like running or cardio training, your skin and clothing are in near-constant contact, and this increases friction.
This can lead to:
- Chafing under your breasts, often due to pooling sweat and pressure points between your bra and skin
- Chafing under your arms, from seams, straps, or stiff fabric
- Bra chafing along the bra band or your back, especially if your bra rides up or shifts during movement
- Chafing from the bra straps, particularly if they dig into the shoulders or rub the skin.
Sweat, heat and poorly fitting bras only make it worse, leading to irritation, redness, and sometimes to a bra chafing rash.
How to Prevent Sports Bra Chafing
Your sports bra should work for you, not against you.
Here are our top tips (and favourite product picks) to stop bra chafing in its tracks, so you can start enjoying your workouts again.
1. Get the Right Fit (It’s the Most Important Step!)
A poorly fitting sports bra is the number one culprit for chafing. If it’s too tight, it digs in. If it’s too loose, it shifts around—creating the perfect recipe for friction. That’s why we offer in-store fittings with our bra experts. Alternatively, you can use our bra size calculator to find your fit at home.
The solution? Look for a sports bra that:
- Sits snug (not tight) under your bust, with straps that stay in place
- Has no gaping or bunching
- Doesn’t slide around during movement
- Has cups that fully contain your breast without pinching or overflow.
Cup size and structure matter a lot when it comes to choosing your sports bras. If the cups are too small, your breasts may be pushed out of the cups or pushed together, creating extra friction and rubbing. If the bra cups are too big, the loose fabric can irritate your skin. For the best support (and chafe prevention), look for structured cups that hold each breast comfortably, giving you support and some separation.
Bra bands matter too. A loose band will move too much. A band that’s too tight digs in. Look for a firm, wide, seam-free underband with a padded clasp at the back.
Triumph tip: The Triaction Ultra Sports Bra is designed for high-impact performance with bounce control, breathable fabric and a firm yet flexible fit. It’s a game-changer for runners seeking a no-chafe sports bra that actually keeps up and adapts to your movement.
2. Prioritise Fabric and Seam-Free Design
Not all sports bras are created equal. Moisture-wicking, seamless styles, and soft-touch fabrics help minimise trapped sweat and prevent chafing.
To reduce chafing, look for lightweight sports bras with:
- Soft, moisture-wicking fabrics
- Smooth linings and bonded seams
- Wide bands and straps to spread pressure evenly
- No exposed tags, wires, or bulky stitching.
Our pick? The Triaction Cardio Flow Padded Bra, featuring quick-dry materials, padded support, and no underwire. It’s engineered to prevent sports bra chafing under breasts and at the bra line.
3. Use Anti-Chafe Products (When You Need Them)
On long runs or hot days, even the best-fitting sports bra might need backup.
Consider applying a chafing prevention balm or powder under the bust and around the band area for added protection.
These help to create a supportive barrier between skin and fabric and to reduce moisture in those areas.
Anti-chafing products can:- Act as a barrier between fabric and skin
- Absorb excess moisture and reduce sweat build-up
- Help prevent irritation in high-friction areas, like under the bust, bra line and underarms.
4. Keep Your Skin Dry
Damp skin is more vulnerable to irritation. Before your workout, make sure you’re dry, and post-workout, change out of your sports bra as soon as possible to avoid chafing from excess moisture.
To reduce the risk of chafing:
- Dry off sweat during your workout with a soft towel if needed
- Change out of damp workout gear promptly afterward
- Air out and cleanse your skin gently post-workout to reduce bacteria build-up.
Rotate Your Bras (And Wash Them Gently)
Wearing the same sports bra repeatedly can cause your bra to wear quickly and affects how it fits and feels.
Rotate between a few favourite well-fitting sports bras and remember to:
- Wash with gentle detergent (avoid fabric softener and always follow the washing labels)
- Air dry to preserve shape and elasticity
- Replace your sports bra when they start to lose shape, stretch or if they are causing you any discomfort.
Still Experiencing Chafing? Here's How to Support Healing
Chafing is uncomfortable! Here’s some ideas to soothe the area and get you back to enjoying movement again as soon as possible.
- Gently wash the area with mild soap and warm water
- Pat dry, avoiding rubbing the tender skin
- Apply a soothing balm or healing cream to calm inflammation
- Avoid tight bras until the skin has healed.
If you're dealing with bra chafing under your arms or along your back, you can try switching to non-chafing sports bras with wide, soft straps and seamless sides to give your skin time to recover.
Chafe-Free Confidence Starts Here
We believe comfort should never come second to performance. Whether you're hitting the gym, the pavement, or the yoga mat, your sports bra should work with you, not against you. Our range of Triaction sportswear has been developed to offer maximum support and comfort, no matter what your preferred way of getting on a sweat is.
If you need support with finding the right sports bra and the right fit for you, check out our online expert bra fitting guide, or speak with one of our friendly team in-store.