Products to Ease the Summer Chafe
Between the heat from sunny days and tight shorts, inner-thigh chafing is an uncomfortable yet everyday reality during the summer months.
We have created this blog post as an easy guide to help you avoid painful thigh chafing this summer. With the right products and care, you can finally say cya to summer chafe.
WHAT IS THIGH CHAFING?
Chafing is a skin irritation that occurs when two different surfaces rub against each other. For example, if you are sweating and wearing tight clothes, the sweat can create friction between your shorts and thighs which can cause the skin to become irritated.
When it’s hot outside, chafing may occur because of sweaty undergarments clinging too tightly to the body, causing them to move excessively, rubbing against sensitive areas like the inner thighs and once again causing irritation.
“This skin under friction causes shearing forces that can cause microtears in the skin,” explains San Diego board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm. “Continual shearing forces can lead to redness, skin denuding and removal, and even skin erosions. Open skin then becomes more vulnerable to infection, especially in a moist environment of sweat, bacteria, and yeast.”
So to sum up, too much rubbing – whether from working out, walking, or wearing tight shorts could be to blame for your painful thigh chafing.
WHY MOISTURIZERS MAY EASE INNER-THIGH CHAFING
Moisturizing effectively treats chafing because it creates a barrier between clothing and the skin that prevents rubbing. Basically, you want something that’s going to interrupt the friction – and moisturizer can do that.
The best solution is to apply a thick, slippery product like petroleum jelly on chafe-prone areas to reduce friction.
“Products with silicone, beeswax, or shea butter provide the same benefit,” says Temitayo Ogunleye, M.D., an assistant professor of clinical dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
On that note, feel free to use a regular lotion too. It might not be as effective as petroleum jelly in preventing chafing, but it can still create a barrier to ward off irritation. To keep your inner thighs chafe-free, reapply every three hours.
PRODUCTS TO SOOTHE CHAFING OF THE INNER THIGHS
A Calming Cleanser
Cleansing your inflamed areas won’t directly treat chafing, but it will soothe irritation and help control fungal growth which can happen in sweaty areas of your body. Give Truly’s Moon Jelly Adaptogenic Body Cleanser a try to clean the skin and speed up the recovery time.
When you’re all done, pat your skin dry (do not rub!), and leave your skin to air out for a few minutes to ensure all the dampness is gone. To speed up the process, dry the area with a fan or blowdryer.
A Skin Salve
The best way to treat chafing is by creating a slip between the two areas that rub together. Something like Truly’s Pineapple Haze All Purpose Skin Salve is a great product for providing that slip – and relief!
Infused with hemp, organic jojoba oil, and pineapple, this soothing fix-it-all balm can be used anywhere where there’s dryness or irritation – from your lips to your thighs all the way down to your heels. It’s also excellent at preventing (and healing) chafing between the thighs. Apply a thin layer on the affected areas to ease the pain and prevent future chafing.
A Moisturizer
After applying the skin salve, follow up with a moisturizer to lock in the moisture. Truly’s Unicorn Fruit Whipped Body Butter has a base of shea butter with high concentrations of fatty acids, vitamin e, and emollients to create a protective, hydrating barrier on the skin.
This formula also contains a blend of skin-repairing ingredients such as acai, matcha, vegan collagen, and rose to smooth and plump out the top layer of your skin. It’s highly effective in treating chafing.
Apply a generous layer to the affected areas to soothe inflammation and protect the skin from further chafing.
Try an Antiperspirant
Antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride which blocks sweat in the moisture-prone folds of your skin. Think arm pits, groin area, inner thighs, and under the breasts.
Apply a light layer of over-the-counter antiperspirant and leave it to dry before putting on clothes or any movement. You could also consider using an antifungal powder into the equation to move out moisture and protect the skin against infections. Avoid using it in areas that are supposed to be moist – like your lady parts.
HOW TO PREVENT CHAFING FROM HAPPENING TO YOU THIS SUMMER
- Stay Dry
Seeing that moisture and sweat are key contributors to summer chafing, the first step to preventing it is keeping your skin dry. And that means wearing breathable materials that stop your skin from sweating.
“Staying dry is key, so dressing in breathable, moisture-wicking materials and changing out of sweaty or wet clothes as soon as possible after a workout are important,” says dermatologist Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, of Modern Dermatology in Westport, CT. It sounds like a shopping trip is just around the corner!
“For chafing from everyday movements, be sure your clothing fits properly. Too much fabric can move around and cause friction, while something too tight can irritate in specific areas, like the underarm, for example,” she adds.
- Apply a Barrier Cream
Whether that’s in the form of a body lotion, butter, balm, or salve, wearing some kind of barrier cream on areas prone to chafing can help immensely.
- Tap on Some Talc
Wet skin, as mentioned above, is more likely to chafe. In addition to towelling off frequently, try using talc dusting powder under your bra straps and around your inner thighs to dry out the area and reduce moisture that causes friction and therefore chafed skin.
Chafing is, for some people, an inevitable part of summer. But here’s something you should know: it doesn’t need to be. As you’ve seen above, all you need is a moisturizer, balm, and talc to cut your chances of getting the summer chafe.
Over to you, what are your tips for preventing and easing summer chafing?
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