Chafing skin treatment

Chafing Skin Treatment

Do you suffer from chafed skin?  Chafing is uncomfortable but you can help prevent and even alleviate chafed skin.  Here are some chafing skin treatment options.

What is Chafing?

Very simply, chafing is when skin rubs against either your clothes or even against your own skin.  It causes a dryness or irritation that is very uncomfortable.  It never feels good.  In fact, it’s something you notice right away.  You wake up in the morning, going about your routine, and then you start scratching a part of your body.  You keep scratching until you finally decide to take a look at what’s going on and there it is – dry, irritated skin.

Chafed skin
Photo credit: khunkorn

Reasons for Skin Chafing

The most common reasons for this problem are exercise and being overweight.  With exercise, there is a constant rubbing of our skin when we’re doing any type of consistent motion:  for example, running, lifting weights, or doing lunges.  The nipples are especially prone to chafing because of the constant rubbing of clothes against their chest.  Ouch!  That’s uncomfortable!!!!  The other reason is being overweight because if your skin is constantly touching skin – such as your thighs or underarms – this will also cause the issue.

Exercise can cause skin chafing
Photo credit: Drobot Dean

Listen, you’re perfect the way you are but if you are noticing chafing, it may be time to do something so that you can alleviate the symptoms.  A good chafing skin treatment can help you to do that.

Lastly, there is also another reason for skin chafing, notably facial chafing.  This happens when your sweetie doesn’t shave because he likes the 5 o’clock shadow.  He may like the look but it could cause you problems on your face.  To me, I find it very uncomfortable!

Chafing Skin Treatment

First and foremost, you need to lessen the amount of rubbing against your skin.  Here are the most effective chafing skin treatment:

  1. Keep skin dry and therefore, not moist.  If you sweat, you may need some sort of drying powder to soak up the sweat.  People have used talcum powder as it is very effective in keeping your skin dry.  It’s easily applied by putting some talcum in a thin cloth, folding it, and then dabbing over your skin.  Easy and no mess!
  2. Lubrication – put some petroleum jelly or other oil (such as coconut oil) on the problem areas.  This will definitely help with the rubbing.  Also, this is a great solution for the nipple problem I mentioned earlier.  If you’re a runner, give this one a try!
  3. Wear proper clothing – make sure your clothes fit well.  With ill-fitting clothing, there is a greater chance of rubbing.  Find moisture-wicking clothing because cotton isn’t ideal.  Compression shorts are great.  Plus, the less clothing, the better for your skin when it comes to chafing.
Exercise clothing
Photo credit: Joshua Resnick

For other suggestions, try these chafing skin treatment suggestions.

Treatment of Chafing Skin

What should you do if you already have skin chafing?  What is a good chafing skin treatment that you can use?  First, make sure you clean the area and dry it completely.  Apply oil or petroleum jelly.  Note:  if you have bleeding, you may need to consult your doctor so that they can provide a prescription to help heal the affected area because you don’t want to get an infection.  Next, avoid more friction – especially until you heal.  If your exercise routine is causing the problem, try an alternative like swimming.

These are just some suggestions.  Try one to see how it helps.  Taking steps to eliminate or reduce the things that are causing the chafing will help you feel better and be less uncomfortable.

Chafing skin treatment
Photo credit: by nuclear_lily

What else can you do?  Here’s how to stop flaky skin.

 

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