How to Get Rid of Chafing

The best way to get rid of chafing is to allow the skin to rest and recover with a little bit of help from a soothing lotion or balm. 

In this article, we’ll give you a detailed breakdown of how to immediately bring some relief to chafed skin. And then we’ll also give you some tips on how to prevent chafing from happening ever again!

How to Treat Chafed Skin

Chafing is a common skin irritation that happens when the skin rubs against itself (skin-to-skin contact) or something else (e.g., clothing) and becomes red and inflamed from repeated rubbing. It can happen almost anywhere on the body, but some areas are more prone to chafing than others. Common areas chafing happens include:

• The heels and toes (often caused by stiff shoes that haven’t been broken in)
• Inner thighs (caused by the friction of skin-on-skin contact from the thighs rubbing together and often exacerbated by groin sweat or stubble from bikini hair removal)
• Beneath the boobs (often caused by too-tight or too-loose underwire bras that rub against the rib cage. Can also be exacerbated by boob sweat)
• Nipple-chafing (often happens to male athletes who may experience chafing when the fabric of their top or tee rubs against the nipples. Less common in women as sports bras are usually worn)
• Inner arm or armpit chafing (another area where the skin is delicate and friction can easily happen between the folds of the skin)

If any of these areas is chafed, you will feel a burning, irritated sensation that you’ll want to immediately find relief for. So here's how to soothe chafed skin:

Reduce Friction: Rest Up to Stop Further Skin Rubbing

When chafing happens, your number one goal is to reduce friction. So stop the motion that causes friction. This means getting to a place where you can rest and treat the chafing, allowing the skin to cool down.

Taking the repeated rubbing out of the equation will allow your body a chance to heal instead of constantly exasperating the chafing with further rubbing. On the flip side, if you keep up the repeated rubbing, you risk making the chafing worse, causing further irritation and even skin infection.

Clean & Dry the Skin (Gently)

While rest is important, don’t simply lie around in sweaty, wet clothes with damp irritated skin. Sweat is often a major contributing factor to chafing. Because sweat contains salt, it can really make your skin burn (just like rubbing salt in a wound.) 

Taking a gentle shower in cool or lukewarm water will help reduce skin irritation and cool the skin. It will also wash away the sweat and salt that may be causing a burning sensation.

We recommend choosing a fragrance-free gentle soap and simply applying it with your hands. No scrubbing or loofahs (that would just be more friction. And when you step out of the shower, gently pat the skin dry rather than rubbing aggressively.

Treat Chafing With Soothing Lotions or Balms

A cooling and moisturizing lotion or balm will both offer relief and help the skin start to heal. It will also form a barrier to protect the skin from further irritation. You can choose a number of different products, such as:

• Aloe vera gel (aloe vera is known for its cooling properties, especially when used on sunburn)
• Argan oil (nutrient-rich and has anti-inflammatory properties)
• Coconut oil (coconut oil reduces inflammation and helps heal wounds)
• Diaper rash cream (serves as a barrier cream)
• Petroleum jelly, aka Vaseline (petroleum jelly keeps the skin slick to prevent further rubbing)
• Medicated ointment

Generally, you can use whatever you have on hand, even a regular body lotion. You will likely want to reapply whatever product you choose a few times throughout the day while you’re healing. Many of these products will help the skin barrier repair. Skin barrier repair affects the feeling of pain and irritation, lessening it as the skin heals.

However, stay clear of products that are heavily fragranced or contain acids (fruit acids, lactic acid, AHAs) as they will likely feel burning on your raw skin.

Change Into Clothes That Protect Your Skin

Clothing can be a cause or contributing factor to skin chafing. Thick seams or rough materials can cause friction that results in chafing (though skin-on-skin chafing is also common.) 

So you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing clothes that don’t rub against sensitive skin and that protect the chafed skin. If you’re going to bed, you may want to wear leggings or shorts and a fitted top to protect the chafed skin. Look for soft materials like modal cotton. This will especially apply to inner thigh chafing, which is a very common form of chafing. 

If it’s daytime still, consider athleisure clothes that will wick sweat away from the body. These clothes are also usually fitted so you won’t have more skin-on-skin chafing. Even if it’s daytime and you wear clothes that protect your skin, you’ll still want to take it easy if you can to really let the skin start to heal on its own.

If You’re in Pain, Try an Ice Pack

If your skin chafing is particularly painful, you might want to pop an anti-inflammatory (aspirin) or another painkiller. As always, follow medical advice when taking any medication. You can also try applying an ice pack to the chafed area to help cool the skin and reduce inflammation.

Severe Chafing

Skin chafing does not usually require a visit to the doctor. If you’re still experiencing pain or irritation days later, or you experience any of the following, it might be worth a trip to the doctor:

• A wound opens up and doesn’t scab over in a few days (assuming it’s not further exacerbated)
• You notice blood or pus coming from a chafing wound
• The skin is very hot or swollen
• Redness spreads beyond the point of chafing

But don’t panic; chafing doesn’t typically require medical attention. A little bit of rest and TLC, and you should be back to normal in a few days!

With Skin Chafing: Prevention Is Better Than the Cure

So now you know how to treat chafed skin. But wouldn’t it be better if it never happened at all! Let's explore how to prevent skin chafing altogether!

Prevent Chafing on the Inner Thighs with Thigh Savers

One of the most common areas to experience chafing in the summer months is between the inner thighs. This is so common it’s got its own nickname: ‘chub rub.’ And it can quickly go from minor irritation to burning pain if you don’t take precautions. But you can prevent thigh chafing and groin chafing with a simple product.

Products like our Thigh Savers works by creating a physical barrier between your thighs. Usually, they’re light shorts that are form-fitting, and you can also look for styles (like our Thigh Savers) that include moisture-wicking to help manage sweat. So you can wear light summer clothes like dresses and still protect the delicate skin of your inner thighs from painful chafing. 

Of course, many of us are dealing with more than just chafing. Whether you're on your period or you experience light bladder leaks, we've got a product that will help along with keeping you chafe-free. Introducing Leakproof Thighsavers. They'll absorb blood, sweat, or pee and keep you chafe-free. 

Explore Anti-Chafing Sticks

There are many anti-chafing products hitting the market to help prevent friction and combat (and treat) skin chafing. Often packaged like deodorant sticks, these products are designed to create a barrier that sits on top of the skin and helps the skin “glide” past other skin rather than rub and create friction.

It might take some trial-and-error to find an anti-chafe balm or product you like, but they might be worth trying. If you don’t have these products handy, you can even try good old petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline) to create a skin barrier (yes, petroleum jelly is good for both treating chafing and preventing it!)

Stay Dry with (Non-Talc) Powders

If sweat is a major source of bother, moisture-absorbing powders can keep you dry by absorbing excess moisture. Look for non-talc all-natural products with ingredients like kaolin or cornstarch to absorb moisture. Other ingredients, like aloe and lavender, can cool, soothe and have antibacterial properties.

Try Antiperspirants or Deodorants

As we’ve discussed, sweat is a major contributor to skin-chafing. While we usually think about our armpits when it comes to sweat, you have sweat glands all over your body, including your boobs, groin, back, and thighs. 

Factors that impact how much you sweat include:

• How many sweat glands you have (the average person has 3 million, but it can range between 2 million and 4 million. The more glands, the more sweat).
• Gender
• Genetics
• Age
• Fitness level
• Environment

But if you sweat more, you are more susceptible to chafing. So deodorants or antiperspirants can help. 

Antiperspirants work by temporarily plugging your sweat glands, so they are very effective at preventing sweat. Many of us use antiperspirants for underarm sweat (though people increasingly switch to natural deodorants for various health reasons connected with aluminum - the chief ingredient used to plug those glands). 

But whether you are for or against them, antiperspirants can offer an effective solution to sweat. And you can use antiperspirant on other body parts too. That said, the skin around your groin and inner thighs may be more sensitive. You should also avoid putting product around your vulva, where it may cause irritation and even infection.

Choose Moisture Wicking Clothes

If you’re looking to prevent chafing, look for clothing that wicks moisture and sweat from the skin surfaces. You’ll usually find most athletic or athleisure clothing has some degree of moisture-wicking these days. 

Because sweat is such a major contributor to the irritation caused by chafing, sweat-wicking clothes will help prevent chafing by trapping sweat away from your skin.

But also pay attention to the fit of your clothes. Clothes that fit the body snugly (like leggings) with minimal seams don’t tend to move a lot, so this means there’s less friction of them rubbing against your skin. And because they fit snugly, they also mean your skin is encapsulated, so there’s less skin-on-skin friction.

However, if your clothes are too tight, those tight seams and bands (like waistbands or bra bands) can dig into the skin and cause irritation. So look for products with that perfect second-skin feeling rather than that sausage-like, too-tight encapsulation.

As with all bodily functions, treating and preventing chafing is also about finding what works for YOU. It may take some trial and error to find the products that work for you. But the good news is there are lots of solutions out there, and chafing should not be an experience that ruins your summer months! 

FAQs on Chafing

How Do You Heal Chafed Thighs Fast?

To heal chafing overnight, wear breathable clothing, apply healing ointments like Vaseline or aloe vera before bed, avoid irritants, use protective covers if needed, consider anti-chafing products, and keep the affected area dry and cool. These steps can help soothe the skin and promote healing while you sleep.

How Do I Stop My Inner Thighs From Chafing?

When your thighs rub together, shapewear (like Thigh Savers) is your friend. Slather petroleum jelly or apply skin lubricant on sensitive skin areas, or use powders like talc to keep things dry. The key here is to keep your inner thighs as dry as possible. Less moisture means less irritation.

Does Vaseline Get Rid of Chafing? 

Yes, Vaseline can help prevent chafing. It forms a protective barrier that resists sweating and keeps the skin lubricated and moisturized, reducing friction and irritation. Additionally, Vaseline All-Over Body Balm Jelly Stick can be applied to the inner thighs before exercising or walking to effectively protect against chafing. 

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We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. 

We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.