How to Relieve Chafing

If you have chafed skin, you’ll be seeking immediate relief. Chafing is a skin irritation caused by friction from repeated rubbing. It results in the skin becoming hot initially. But if the friction from skin rubbing persists, it will become inflamed and angry. You may even see some tears on the skin if it is dry or the source of chafing is particularly rough.

Chafing is incredibly common. It can happen to different body parts, to men and women. And while it is considered a “minor” skin irritation in medical terms, it can hurt a whole lot. So, if you’re experiencing chafing, you’ll be relieved to know that there are things you can do to soothe your irritated skin and help it heal.

5 Steps to Soothing Chafed Skin

Chafed skin will usually present as angry, red, and inflamed skin. It will feel tender or painful to touch, and you may even find movement painful. So, you’ll definitely want to seek immediate relief. 

The good news is that there are no elaborate steps or products here. Chafing is a bit like a mild sunburn; it will generally heal on its own. But there are also steps you can take to help that healing process.

1. Make Sure to Clean the Chafed Skin

Chafing generally happens when the skin is hot and sweaty, so we’re more susceptible to it in the summer months or when working out. Sweat worsens chafing because it makes the skin sticky, and this means the skin is more likely to ‘drag’ when it’s moving, thereby creating friction.

But sweat also contains salt, and we all know the adage about rubbing salt in a wound. Indeed, the salt in your sweat can be responsible for a lot of the skin irritation associated with chafing.

Damp, clammy skin can also be a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause yeast infections and other skin infections. So, the first thing you should do is get out of those sweaty and wet clothes and throw them in the laundry hamper. Hop in the shower and wash all that sweat away.

When it comes to washing, this is a time to keep the temperature lower. Cool water will probably feel really nice against your hot, inflamed skin and will immediately start to reduce the swelling. Also, choose a gentle soap (scent-free, hypoallergenic if possible) and lather it up with your hands instead of using abrasive scrubbers like sponges or loofahs. Gentle is key.

And ‘gentle’ carries on outside the shower too. Pat your skin dry instead of rubbing the skin aggressively. 

2. Apply Petroleum Jelly, Aloe Vera Gel, or Another Soothing Product to Help Healing

Dry, clean skin will heal over time by itself. But there are a number of products that can be applied to:

• Offer immediate relief (cooling, anti-inflammatory, and even numbing properties)
• Help the skin heal faster
• Form a protective barrier to prevent chafing

There are lots of options here, and you probably already have one or two of these in your medicine cabinet or even your pantry. Petroleum jelly is a really popular option, but here’s a full list of products to consider for treating chafed skin:

• 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

Chafing can happen in lots of different places on the body (we’ll cover that in the next section), so do think about what product is appropriate for what body part. If you have skin chafing around the groin, for example, always be mindful of using products on genitalia that might disrupt the pH balance of that area.

You’ll likely have to reapply whatever product you choose every few hours to soothe the friction burn caused by skin chafing.

3. Consider Your Clothing or Nightwear

Chafed skin needs a break from the movements that cause friction. If you can, now is a good time to chill out.

But you can also treat chafing by thinking about what you wear. Here are some good considerations:

• Create a physical barrier around the chafed skin: To prevent further skin-on-skin chafing, make sure the skin is encapsulated in soft, fitted clothing. For example, if you have inner thigh-chafing, 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 or Leakproof Thigh Savers. If you’re turning in for the night, opt for pajamas rather than a night dress.
• 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 and fitted athleisure tops are usually made of this kind of material. 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 broken in or wool.
• Watch out for seams: Athleisure wear usually has offset seams to prevent the seams from causing chafing. But thick protruding seams (on joggers, jeans, and bulky sweaters) may only aggravate chafing further. So, look for products that are seam-free or have offset seams. 

4. Take a Rest

Want an excuse to Netflix ‘n’ chill? You got one! Staying still for a bit will allow the skin to do its thing and heal up. 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. 

5. If That’s Not Cutting it: Icepacks, Painkillers, Possibly a Visit to Your Doctor

We all have different pain thresholds, and if you’re in sincere pain, you can absolutely consider taking an over-the-counter painkiller (always follow the dosage guidelines.)

Icepacks can also bring additional relief; just make sure you’re wrapping the icepack in something (an old teatowel or pillowcase is ideal) before pressing it against the skin.

You might also wonder if you need to visit the doctor. Most often, the answer to this is ‘no.’ However, there are some exceptions, and here are some clear signs you might want to have a doctor take a look:

• 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

That said, chafing does not usually require medical attention, and it’s simply a matter of giving the skin time to heal. 

Inner Thighs, Nippes, Feet: Skin Chafing Can Happen to Different Body Parts

Skin chafing can occur almost anywhere on the body, but it’s always delicate and sensitive skin that will chafe more readily (and will hurt the most.) 

Skin-on-skin chafing occurs where the skin folds or comes into contact with other skin. But skin-on-material chafing can happen pretty much any time something repeatedly rubs against your body. This could be clothing, but it might also be an object you’re carrying (for example carrying heavy boxes could cause chafing along the inner arms). Or it could be something like a seatbelt or purse strap rubbing against the side of your neck.

The effect of skin chafing is like that of ultrafine sandpaper. If you rub ultrafine sandpaper against a surface once, you won’t really notice an impact, but do it 1000 times, and you’ll transform the surface. But, there are some body parts where chafing occurs more commonly. These include:

• The heels and toes (often caused by stiff shoes that haven’t been broken in. Sometimes, you'll have to treat blisters as a result of this kind of chafing)
• Inner thigh chafing (caused by the friction when the thigh skin rubs 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)
• The collar or neck (often caused by a stiff, starched collar or even a seatbelt or cross-body purse strap for some people)
• Nipple-chafing (often happens to male athletes who may experience chafing when the fabric of their running vest 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 skin folds)

Skin Chafing’s Co-Conspirators: Stubble, Sweat, Dry Skin

While chafing is caused by repeated rubbing (either skin-on-skin or other materials on the skin), it doesn’t have some co-conspirators that can make it worse when the skin rubs. Those include:

Sweat or Excess Moisture

Sweat creates a double-whammy of problems. First, it creates a damp, sticky skin surface that is more likely to ‘drag’ when it rubs. This means your skin won’t glide over the surface of whatever is causing the chafing. Instead, it pulls. And when this happens repeatedly? You’ve got yourself some skin chafing.

Second, we all know that sweat contains salt. And salt can be irritating to inflamed skin. In fact, that’s often where a lot of the burning sensation of chafing comes from. Those tiny salt crystals can also cause micro-tears to the skin, and while they might not be individually visible to the eye, they will cause red skin and inflammation.

So, on days when you’re sweaty, skin chafing is more likely to occur. This is why it’s such a concern for athletes.

Stubble

Remember when we said that chafing is like ultrafine sandpaper rubbing against the skin? Well, if you add stubble into that mix, you might upgrade that sandpaper. Depending on the body part, hair removal will mean hair regrowth, and that regrowth is often coarse to the touch. On body parts like the armpits, legs, and crotch, stubble can make chafing all the more irritating.

Dry or Irritated Skin

Healthy, moisturized, and strong skin is no guarantee that you won’t experience chafing. But if your skin is already rough and dry or even irritated, you’ll definitely speed up the chafing process and be at greater risk of skin infection.

As we’ve said, if the skin is already chafed, you’ll want to treat it gently. But when skin is healed, make sure to regularly exfoliate and moisturize and generally keep skin in tip-top condition to avoid irritations. If you have other skin irritations, it’s worth seeing a dermatologist, as there are lots of treatment options and best practices available. 

We all tend to be hard on our skin, exposing it to the elements, harsh products, scrubbing, and chemicals. Remember to slow down and give it some TLC!

In the Future: Take Steps to Prevent Chafing and Skin Irritation

In this article, we’ve focused a lot on treating chafing and how to soothe chafed skin. We've also tried to better understand what chafing is, why it happens and what makes chafing worse.

But there are also ways to avoid chafing altogether. 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 can prevent skin chafing before it even gets started (or what underwear you wear to prevent chafing of the inner thighs).

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 (or leakproof anti-chafing underwear) that are moisture and sweat-wicking
• Non-talc anti-chafing powders that can be applied to absorb moisture naturally and reduce friction
• Anti-chafing cream - there are lots of options out there designed to help the skin 'glide', and your trusted petroleum jelly can even work!
• Antiperspirants and deodorants that can be applied on areas other than the armpits

Finally, remember that chafing can happen to anybody. If you experience it, don’t feel embarrassed. It is not necessarily a signal that you have a weight problem or that there’s something wrong. Indeed, many high-performance athletes struggle with chafing too. But do give yourself the time to heal and recover and think about how you can prevent it next time!

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.