When thighs rub together for too long, it causes thigh chafing (intertrigo), a painful skin irritation from friction, moisture (sweat), and sometimes irritating fabrics, leading to redness, rashes, burning, itching, blisters, and in severe cases, open sores, bleeding, or secondary infections, which can darken the skin over time.
Inner thigh chafing occurs when your skin rubs together and the friction causes irritation. This irritation can lead to everything from bumps to welts and rashes, which can last for days. As a response to the damage and irritation, your skin may produce extra melanin.
Lubricate Your Skin – A bit of lubrication will help your thighs glide past each other, rather than pulling or rubbing the skin. Apply Vaseline® All-Over Body Balm Jelly Stick to the insides of the thighs before exercising or walking to effectively help protect against chafing.
Chafing is irritation to the skin caused by friction—usually skin-on-skin or clothing-on-skin. This friction will eventually cause enough irritation that it will injure your skin, resulting in a rash, blisters or raw skin. Severe chafing can be extremely painful, making movement difficult.
Take the following steps to treat chafing and encourage your body to heal!
As chafing gets worse, it can cause more serious symptoms, like: Blistering, sores or welts. Color changes and skin turning puffy or wrinkly (like how wet skin becomes “pruney”)
Using moisturiser or other lotions such as petroleum jelly or hypoallergenic balm will reduce the effects of friction so you can run undisturbed. You should cover all the usual chafing spots. That includes the inner thighs, nipples, armpits and groin.
Inner-thigh chafing occurs when your legs rub against one another, causing friction and irritation. It can look like redness, blister-like lesions or boils or a flat rash, and can feel painful, itchy and burning.
Warm, moist areas with particularly sensitive skin, like the groin area, are especially prone to chafing as sensitive skin can be easily irritated. Repeated exposure to prolonged moisture, reduced air flow, and increase in friction against diaper material can lead to chafing known as 'diaper rash' in babies.
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If the area is extremely irritated, a large bandage over the zone could help protect it while it heals. Wear loose, breathable clothes, and if possible, try to avoid moving in a way that could further the chafing.
How do I wear them? Slip them on under skirts, dresses, or trousers. Most wear them over knickers, but the breathable cotton gusset means you can comfortably wear them as a replacement too.
Is intertrigo a fungal infection? Intertrigo itself is not an infection. It's an inflammatory skin condition. However, intertrigo often leads to a fungal or bacterial infection.
For example, unpleasant odors and yellow or clear liquid are more likely to occur in these areas, as the chafing rash is exposed to more moisture and bacteria, which can cause it to develop a bacterial or fungal infection.
There is a general misconception that only overweight people suffer from thigh chafing. Although obese women are at particular risk of chafing, even slim women can find their thighs chafe. It occurs due to their genetics and natural body composition. Losing weight may help to prevent chafing if you're overweight.
Chafing is not caused by excess weight, it is caused by skin-on-skin friction, which can happen to anyone of any size. However, body changes such as extra weight gain, excess skin from weight loss or pregnancy, and even muscle gains can all increase the chances of thighs touching and rubbing when you walk.
If you shave your armpits, thighs, or pubic hair, you may experience chafing as the hair begins to grow back. Short, blunt hairs (or stubble) increase friction, which leads to chafing. Try keeping the hair slightly longer or freshly shaved to help ease the friction.
Your trusted deodorant stick can also help to avert that dreaded thigh rub burn! Simply apply a layer of your favorite deodorant in the areas where your thighs have rubbed together in the past, causing you irritation after a long day of activity in the summer sun.
Initial stages are marked by redness and tenderness in affected areas, accompanied by a sensation of burning or itching. If chafing isn't addressed it will become worse, leading to more inflammation which causes blisters and the skin to slough off and present a superficial ulcer.
STDs or Infections: Groin chafing can sometimes be mistaken for jock itch, STDs, or bacterial infections. If irritation persists or worsens, consult a medical professional.
This constant friction, made worse by heat or sweat, can leave the skin red, raw, and painful. Common causes of thigh chafing include: Exercise or physical activity: Repetitive motions like walking, running, or biking can cause friction, especially when combined with sweat.
While Vaseline helps seal moisture into the skin, some experts have suggested that it may also trap in oil and dirt. As such, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) warn that people who are prone to acne may experience breakouts after applying Vaseline to the face.
Clean and Soothe
Pat the area dry (do not rub dry) and apply a light layer of protective cream such as vaseline – Only use an anti-bacterial cream such as sudocrem if there is a sign of infection. Cover with a bandage or gauze, as this still allows the area to breathe while providing a protective coat.