How to Get Rid of Thigh Chafing

Inner thigh chafing is a distinctly unpleasant experience, and it’s ideal to avoid it altogether (wearing Thigh Savers or Leakproof Thigh Savers is one way!) But if your thighs are already chafed, this advice will fall into the ‘hindsight is 20/20’ category!

So, what can you do to get rid of inner thigh chafing? Good news: While it’s majorly irritating, chafing is usually considered a minor skin irritation from a medical standpoint, and with some rest from friction and some gentle, loving treatment, your skin should be right again in no time!

Why We Get Chafed Skin on the Inner Thighs in the First Place

The skin of the inner thighs is thin and fragile, which makes it more susceptible to chafing. Additionally, the inner thighs are protected a lot of the time, which keeps the skin delicate (unlike other body areas where the skin toughens up due to exposure.) 

But in summer, as the temperature soars, we all make different clothing choices. Shorts, dresses, and skirts leave our thighs exposed. And as we walk, run and hike, the delicate skin of the inner thighs rubs together. It’s this friction from repeated rubbing that causes chafing. 

While friction from repeated rubbing is the main cause of thigh chafing, it is exacerbated by the following:

Sweat

When it’s hot out, we all sweat more. And while sweating is a perfectly normal bodily function, it can also agitate delicate skin. This is because sweat contains salt, and when salt comes into contact with agitated skin, it can cause a burning sensation.

But sweat is a culprit for another reason; it makes the skin sticky. And that means if there are body parts rubbing together, sweat can create more drag and pull, which can worsen the friction and the chafing it causes. So, staying dry is one way to minimize or avoid chafing.

Stubble

We all know that stubble isn’t exactly soft. It can be prickly, and regrowth can cause its own irritation (red bumps, ingrown hairs, etc.) So if you remove the hair on your inner thighs and bikini lines, the stubble can definitely contribute to chafing. It might even cause additional tears to the skin that can quickly turn chafing into a significant skin irritation and even (in severe cases) cause skin infection.

7 Steps to Heal Chafing on the Inner Thighs

We don’t want to be alarmist; chafing is usually a minor and common skin irritation that will heal relatively quickly. However, when it happens along your inner thighs, you don’t want to dawdle. 

This is because broken, irritated skin + dampness can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria. And this is not something you want happening in your groin area, where bacteria can lead to UTIs, yeast infections, or skin infections.

So, don’t freak out, but do act quickly if your skin has become chafed and especially if the skin is broken. But rest assured, the steps are straightforward, and you probably have everything you need at hand to treat chafing and prevent further irritation.

1. Always Start With Clean Skin

Once you get home, make sure those sweaty, wet clothes you’re wearing go right in the laundry hamper. Don’t be tempted to wear them again; start with a clean slate.

This applies to the skin, too; there’s no point applying anything until you’ve cleaned the skin. So into the shower you go. If you choose a lower temperature, this should actually feel nice and bring some immediate relief to the skin. This is not a time for a hot steamy shower or bath. Instead, choose lukewarm water and let it run gently over your chafed skin.

You’ll want to clean the skin with soap, and again, gentleness is key. Choose a shower gel that is mild and unscented, and lather it in your hands rather than using loofahs or sponges. Make sure to lather up your thigh and groin area to wash all that sweat away.

2. Avoid Vigorous Rubbing

You may love an invigorating towel dry when you step out of the shower, but this is not the time for that. Remember: Friction is what got you here in the first place, and rubbing with a towel (no matter how soft!) will only create more friction. Instead, gently pat the skin dry with a clean towel. If you are in significant pain, you could also just lay on a towel and let yourself air dry.

3. Apply (and Reapply) a Healing Cream / Balm / Salve on the Skin Irritation

Now comes the soothing part of the skin treatment: Reach for a healing cream, balm, or salve to treat thigh chafing. There are lots of options here, but we recommend staying away from heavy scents and lotions with acids (AHAs, lactic acid, or fruit acids) as these might further agitate the skin. If it's all you have, petroleum jelly even works!

Popular choices of topical products to soothe chafing include:

• 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)
• Shea butter (contains vitamins A, E, and F, antioxidant vitamins that promote circulation and healthy skin cell growth)
• Diaper rash cream (serves as a barrier cream)
• Petroleum jelly, aka Vaseline (petroleum jelly keeps the skin slick to prevent further rubbing)
• Medicated ointment

When treating the inner thighs, do be mindful of anything that gets too close to the vulva. Anything that enters the vagina can disrupt the pH balance and cause irritations or a UTI (urinary tract infection), so make sure you don’t slather on products too generously.

Instead of a more-is-more one-off approach, reapply the product every few hours, so the skin stays hydrated without being weighed down by product.

4. Choose What You Change Into Carefully

Okay - once you’re clean and dry, you can get dressed. Whether that means changing into nightwear or daywear, some rules of thumb and what you choose:

• Create a physical barrier between your thighs: You need to minimize friction between your thighs at this point, so choose fitted clothing that will create a physical barrier to prevent the thighs from rubbing together. Leggings are a good choice for daywear or try some anti-chafing underwear. If you’re turning in for the night, opt for pajamas rather than a nightdress.
• Sweat-wicking materials are key: If you’re going back outside or will be moving around, sweat-wicking materials will keep the skin dry. Athletic leggings are usually made of this kind of material, as are Thigh Savers. This will prevent salty sweat from agitating the skin, thereby giving it a chance to heal.
• Choose soft materials: Cotton, modal cotton, and soft sweat-wicking materials will feel cool and comfortable next to the skin. Avoid anything hard or scratchy, like thick denim that hasn’t yet been worn in.
• Watch out for seams: Athletic leggings usually have offset seams to prevent the seams from causing chafing. But traditional terry joggers and jeans can have thick and bulky seams, which may further aggravate your sensitive skin. Look for products that are seamfree or have offset seams. 

5. Rest & Rehydrate

While it’s not always possible to spend the rest of the day on the sofa, that’s really ideal. Even when you follow the first four steps, some amount of friction is inevitable. Remember: When the thighs rub, you're adding to the friction that caused inner thigh chafing in the first place. So if you can stay still and allow the skin to cool and heal, that will really speed up your recovery.

Also, don’t forget that when your body is hot and sweaty, you need to rehydrate. So, get plenty of fluids and lie low for a bit if you possibly can. (This would be an ideal time to binge-watch something on Netflix.)

Speaking of rest, this is not a time for hanky panky with your significant other either—that’s yet another form of friction, and it will probably yield some discomfort. A night off is probably best.

6. Ice Packs Can Also Help

If all of this seems trivial compared to the pain you’re enduring, you can also try an over-the-counter painkiller (always follow the guidelines.)

And if the burning sensation just won’t stop, you can reach for an icepack and hold it against the skin. Always wrap the icepack in something first (an old teatowel or pillow sham is ideal.)

7. Do You Need Medical Attention for Skin Chafing? Know the Signs 

Most chafing does not require medical attention. We know it hurts like hell, but your doctor will probably advise you to follow the steps outlined above. 

However, there are rare exceptions when chafing is something you should see your doctor about, and there are some pretty unmistakeable signs:

• A wound opens up around the chafed area 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 or cracked skin
• The skin is very hot or swollen
• Redness spreads beyond the point of chafing

But generally, a little bit of rest and TLC, and you should be back to normal in a few days!

Next Time: Prevent Thigh Chafing Before it Happens

Hopefully, you’re well on the road to recovery now. 

But wouldn’t it be even better if you could have avoided skin chafing altogether? Well, you can prevent chafing! Indeed, a lot of the steps outlined above can also reduce friction and help prevent the skin rubbing that causes thigh chafing. In particular, carefully choosing what you wear (or what underwear you wear) can prevent skin chafing before it even gets started.

Also, think about choices that will minimize sweat and moisture, which we saw can really exacerbate skin chafing. Look for:

• Clothes and anti-chafe underwear that are moisture and sweat-wicking
• Non-talc anti-chafing powders that can be applied to absorb moisture naturally
• Antiperspirants and deodorants that can be applied places other than the armpits

When it comes to your groin/crotch area, you do want to be mindful of what products you put down there that might disrupt the pH levels in the vagina. But if you focus on the inner-thigh area rather than the groin, you have options.

There are also topical anti-chafe creams that prevent chafing (and good ole Vaseline or petroleum jelly works well, too) by creating a skin barrier that helps the thighs glide past each other rather than drag. But you may find these to be messier solutions than simply choosing different underwear or clothing.

Finally, remember that thigh chafing can happen to anyone (and almost anywhere on your body) so don’t be ashamed or embarrassed if you experience it. Know there are many options for both treating thigh chafing and avoiding it going forward. So you can still enjoy your favorite summer activities, just without the burn.

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.