# Cotton shirt, nipples hurt **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871 "2001-11-17T02:52:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/1 "2001-11-17T02:52:54Z")
While running, that is. I’m working my way up to a marthon (Dec 8). Anytime I run more than 5-6 miles in a cotton shirt my (male) nipples get rubbed raw. Coolmax is much better, and essential for distances up to a half-marathon. Need tape after that. I’m going with band-aids come race day. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/2 "2001-11-17T03:41:47Z")
I tried but I can’t resist! Man nips rubbed raw by cotton…damn! Now that’s a gay man fantasy! \ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/3 "2001-11-17T05:08:12Z")
When cotton gets wet,it gets abrasive. I use a nylon singlet underneath and always wear Coolmax. Im running my 1st marathon Dec 2. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/4 "2001-11-17T05:14:36Z")
You all need to remember to get those pics of you running posted, like Scylla did. Sheer adult fantasy come to life. ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/5 "2001-11-17T05:27:31Z")
A whole marathon, eh? Oooooh, and in December too! Paint a shirt on…few people will notice the difference. Or cut out little nipple holes in a shirt. Seriously, though, duct tape is the way to go. Duct tape fixes anything. I’m not so sure about Band-Aids, though. It would seem that if your shirt is being abrasive, it might cause the Band-Aids to fall off, especially if you’re going to be running 26 miles. Better give it a trial run. ---
**Author:** ![Playdeaux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@Playdeaux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Playdeaux)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/6 "2001-11-17T06:50:23Z")
I never in my life would have believed I’d have a use for this information. I read about this product in a Dave Barry column. It’s called [NipGuards](http://www.nipguards.com/). Their site says, and I quote, “Protection Against Painful Nipple Abrasions and Chafing.” I swear I am not making this up. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![eirroc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f1d935/32.png) [@eirroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eirroc)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/7 "2001-11-17T09:20:24Z")
**Scylla** posted pics of him running the marathon? How come I missed that? Linkety link please anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/8 "2001-11-17T14:29:36Z")
Scylla’s marathon thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=99278](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=99278) I’ll see what I can do about a photo of myself. The thing that worries me about tape, etc. is that I usually have to take off my shirt (coolmax, that is) and wring it out at some point (I’m down here in the deep South, temps can get warm even in Dec). I like to run for awhile shirtless, and you start getting strange looks. ---
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/9 "2001-11-17T14:31:23Z")
Augh, Playdeaux, the bloody nipple link - I did not need to see that. ---
**Author:** ![Playdeaux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@Playdeaux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Playdeaux)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/10 "2001-11-17T18:25:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kellymccauley \* > \*\*Augh, Playdeaux, the bloody nipple link - I did not need to see that. \*\* Omigosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t scroll down that far on the first page, and I only have a measley 15" monitor. :o I’d go back & post a warning if I could… Anyway, there are two more products I’ve seen in local drug stores that might work, yet not be visible without a shirt on. One is called “Liquid Gloves,” and it’s usually with diabetic supplies. Another is New-Skin® Liquid Bandage. I think there’s more than one company that makes such a thing, but this one actually says “it forms a clear cover that protects.” By the way, I’ve never used **any** of these products, so this is not an endorsement. I just happen to spend a lot of time perusing these things since I have an allergic reaction to most bandaid adhesives, and a diabetic cat. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/11 "2001-11-17T21:42:17Z")
Two words–Duct tape. [sub] duct and run [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/12 "2001-11-17T22:12:40Z")
- - - As an athletic clothing material, _ **cotton sucks** _. Cotton underwear and socks are the _worst_. ~ Socks should be wool/wool mix or synthetic, and underwear should be flannel or silk. Or missing. 'Nuff said. - MC ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/13 "2001-11-18T03:06:56Z")
All I’m saying is that “cotton shirt, nipples hurt” really sounds like it’s a line from a song. Doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/14 "2001-11-18T03:30:21Z")
Good luck on your marathon, **kelly.** I helped staff an aid station at the Raleigh marathon last year (and will be doing so again this year on Dec. 2). One of the memorable moments was seeing the guy coming through in a white singlet, with huge red circles where his nipples were bleeding. We were begging the guy to take some Vaseline, but he wasn’t interested. Since I won’t be at your race to cheer you on, I’ll do it now: Wooo-hooo! Looking good! You’re looking strong! Keep it up! (PS: Want to know why the gatorade tastes so bad? They have us dilute it to half strength, since they assume you’re more in need of the hydration than the flavor and the salt.) **JavaMaven** : Perhaps to the tune of “Five foot Two, Eyes of blue…” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/15 "2001-11-18T03:55:34Z")
If you sweat too much for duct tape to stay on, try zinc oxide cream (Penaten is a nice brand). ---
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/16 "2001-11-18T15:59:46Z")
DougC: I’m with you on the cotton sucks issue. Ironiclly, there’s a very popular 10k here in Huntsville, AL called the “Cotton Row Run”, that’s a throwback to the days of King Cotton. I ran it, without wearing a stitch of cotton. I consider my discovery of synthetic socks to be the first major breakthrough of my training. YWalker, thanks for the encouragement. I must admit, opening this thread was a veiled solicitation for runner-talk. I have been in other events where they mix the Gatorade at 50/50. I’m not sure I like this, because I take it straight while training (I think the carbs do me good), and alternate with plain water. I guess it’s not going to change my approach, though. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_the\_Shrubber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@Roger\_the\_Shrubber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_the_Shrubber)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/17 "2001-11-18T22:11:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JavaMaven1 \* > \*\*All I’m saying is that “cotton shirt, nipples hurt” really sounds like it’s a line from a song. > Doesn’t it? \*\* Dude, yes! I guess only us musicians get it. I saw that and punked out loud “COTTON SHIRT/NIPPLES HURT!”. It’s such a punk song. Isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![mancunian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mancunian/32/12244_2.png) [@mancunian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mancunian)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/18 "2001-11-18T23:31:05Z")
Back in school (in the UK if anybody wonders WTF I’m talking about), when we had assembly, the headmaster (who was a jogger) gave us a talk on joggers nipple. He told us that the best cure is Vaseline. He even brought in a little jar to show us what Vaseline was, and also his jogging top. ---
**Author:** ![Ikujinashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ikujinashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ikujinashi)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/19 "2001-11-19T02:27:05Z")
To date my longest race is a 1/2 marathon. I hope to double that come February. **kellymccauley** , even coolmax betrays you at the longer distances? I was hoping that I could get by with a coolmax top and no tape/vaseline silliness. Maybe I’ll end up doing the whole run topless. Good luck on your marathon (and to **runner pat** too) that’s coming up awfully quick. ---
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cotton-shirt-nipples-hurt/93871/20 "2001-11-19T03:14:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ikujinashi \* > \*\ ***kellymccauley** , even coolmax betrays you at the longer distances? I was hoping that I could get by with a coolmax top and no tape/vaseline silliness. Maybe I’ll end up doing the whole run topless. > > Good luck on your marathon (and to **runner pat** too) that’s coming up awfully quick. \*\* Coolmax works okay for the duration of, say, a half marathon. But usually, my nips hurt the next day when rubbed by an undershirt. Never had bloodiness, though.