How to Remedy Chafing in Groin Area (Female)

If you experience chafing ‘down there,’ you’ll know just how sensitive and sore it can become. Chafing is the kind of irritation that can sneak up on you: At first, it feels hot, slightly tingling, and then it becomes burning and sore. If you keep going, it can become downright painful, to the point of keeping you from sleeping.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What is chafing
• Why it happens to so many people ‘down there’
• How to prevent it from happening
• How to treat it if it does happen

Let’s go!

What Is Skin Chafing?

Chafing is a form of skin irritation caused by the friction of skin rubbing against skin or skin rubbing against other material.

Skin repeatedly rubbing against other skin is just part of how we naturally move. It could be the skin of your inner arms rubbing against your torso or the skin of your inner thighs rubbing against each other. Basically, anywhere the skin folds, it can result in chafed skin. But when you move repeatedly and delicate skin rubs against other skin, it can cause heat and friction, which can give way to a nasty and irritating rash. 

Chafing is more likely to happen in hot weather. This is because:

• You’re more likely to have skin exposed, wearing sleeveless tops, shorts or skirts, and dresses without tights underneath
• The weather is warmer, which contributes to skin heat and friction
• You’re more likely to be perspiring—as we’ll see, sweat can really exacerbate chafing

But chafing isn’t exclusively a summer problem. It can also occur when delicate skin rubs against a thick seam or if your underwear is too tight. And if you’re prone to perspire more, it can also be irritated by sweat year-round.

Why Does Chafing Happen on the Inner Thighs and Groin?

We all sweat wherever we have sweat glands, including around the vulva and thighs. Of course, we don’t all sweat the same amounts. Put two people through a workout on a hot day, and there can be extreme differences in how much they will sweat. Indeed there is no rule about how much sweating is ‘normal.’ 

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

How to Prevent Skin Irritation and Chafing?

You know what they say: A pound of prevention is better than the cure. So prevent skin chafing in the first place by trying the following:

Stay Clean & Fresh!

When you’re trying to prevent irritated skin and chafed skin, it’s important to stay clean and fresh. This means showering regularly with a mild soap, changing your underwear daily, and washing clothes that have become sweaty (especially workout clothes) after each wear. However, it does not mean aggressively scrubbing or using drying or agitating skin products. Gentle is best!

Use Antiperspirants to ‘Plug’ Sweat Glands

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 upper thighs may be more sensitive. You should also avoid putting product around your vulva, where it may cause irritation and even infection.

Use Powders (Not Talc!) to Minimize Moisture

If sweat is a major source of bother, moisture-absorbing powders can help keep the groin and thighs dry. 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.

Note: Talcum powder may increase the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, so avoid using this type of powder in the genital area. (source)

Wear Breathable & Loose Clothing

Loose, breathable clothing and underwear made of natural fibers (cotton, linen, hemp, etc.) will help your body stay cooler and will help sweat more quickly evaporate, thereby helping to prevent chafing. Tight, synthetic clothing that traps any moisture close to the skin can exacerbate a feeling of dampness and even exacerbate odor. 

Use Specialty Products to Help the Skin ‘Glide’

There are specialty products or a general anti-chafing cream to help the skin ‘glide’ and thereby prevent skin chafing. These range from petroleum jelly or coconut oil (beloved by some of my most devout running friends) to specialty products like anti-chafing sticks, like Super Glide.

Like any topical product, it may take some time to find the one that’s right for you. It’s worth noting that not all of these products will be suitable for the sensitive groin area — stick with the thighs.

...Or Moisture-Wicking Clothing

If you’re doing any athletic activity and are prone to sweating and/or chafing, it’s worth looking into specialty workout gear. This is where the ‘loose clothing’ rule can be broken as you opt for fitted, performance fabrics.

Bike shorts or leggings, for example, are designed to be form-fitting, cushioned, have offset seams, and are moisture wicking. Even if you’re not a hardcore athlete, you might want to up the ante on your workout clothes to minimize chances of irritation and ensure you actually enjoy your activity!

Simply Switch Up Your Underwear

Anti-chafing underwear works by creating a physical barrier between your thighs (usually, they’re light shorts). You can look for styles (like our Thigh Savers) that include moisture wicking to help manage sweat. 

The upside is that you can wear light summer clothes like dresses and still protect the delicate skin of your inner thighs from chafing. Simply switch from regular underwear to anti-thigh chafing shorts and wear all your favorite things!

On your period or experience light bladder leaks? No need to double up—try Leakproof Thigh Savers and you get all the benefits of leakproof underwear and chafing shorts combined! 

You can also try Leakproof Underwear, it absorbs moisture to help limit irritation, and discomfort.

Avoid Pads and Panty Liners

If you’re experiencing sweat around your thighs and groin, it might feel natural to reach for a panty liner or pad to absorb the moisture. But that will actually be counterproductive. These products are often lined with synthetic backs. This means that the sweat will not evaporate but be trapped against your skin, where it can cause odor, itching, irritation, and discomfort.

How to Treat Chafed Skin

It's not always possible to prevent chafing, and if you’ve got some skin chafing on the sensitive skin around your thighs or groin area? Here are some things you can do about it: 

Gentle Is Key: Use Mild Cleansers &  Pat Dry

First, you’ll want to clean the skin to make sure sweat and bacteria (which can cause skin infection) get washed away. However, avoid scalding hot water and aggressive cleaning. Instead, shower in cooler water and use a gentle cleanser. Pat the skin dry gently too. You don’t want to further aggravate the chafed skin.

Soothe Chafed Skin with Petroleum Jelly (e.g., Vaseline) Or Coconut Oil

Once your skin is dry (and hopefully feeling a little cooler), apply some lubricant. Petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) is something most of us have handy in our medicine cabinets. Some people also have success with baby’s diaper rash creams. 

One friend of mine prefers coconut oil to Vaseline or petroleum jelly and swears it is more effective at keeping the skin moisturized without feeling excessively greasy. You could also try argan oil or aloe vera gel. There are lots of choices here, but the key is some form of moisture that will help soothe. If the cream has anti-inflammatory properties, that will also help soothe thigh chafing.

Stay away from moisturizers with fruit acids, AHAs, or strong scents as they may cause further irritation.

Take a Break From Any Exercise or Movement That Caused the Chafing

Obviously, we’re not here to advocate for not exercising, but you certainly don't want to make the chafing worse. There are also times when your body needs a break, and if you have chafed skin, it’s a good idea to give your skin a chance to heal. We’re not suggesting you stop moving altogether, but be sensible and gentle for a few days.

We get it - it’s unlikely you can sit still until skin chafing is completely healed. So make sure you’re not worsening it when you do need to be up and about. You can swap into clothing that creates a physical barrier between your thighs. So, try wearing anti-chafing shorts or leakproof thigh savers during the day, so you don’t further exacerbate the irritation.

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.