When it comes to skin problems, chafing is one of the most common ones you can come across, and it’s caused by friction between clothing and skin or between skin and skin. While initial prolonged friction will only result in mild red rashes, this chafing can quickly turn into a tingling, burning sensation when exposed to sweat and dirt. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be a problem that takes you all the way to the doctor—you can treat yourself at home using a few simple steps that address your problem’s origin and even help to prevent it. From disinfection to Manuka honey, here’s how to properly treat skin chafing at home.
Clean Chafed Skin
Many people, sometimes simply from laziness, don’t consider the significance of cleaning wounds and then just apply a topical ointment onto damaged skin. With chafed skin, it’s often exposed to a lot of bacteria, so it’s imperative that you clean and disinfect to help the skin heal. Skipping this step could hinder the performance of a regular chafing product and may worsen the chafing once the skin becomes infected.
When you disinfect, avoid using an antibacterial soap or ointment, as these products will also eradicate the good bacteria that are a crucial part of the skin repair process. You might try topically applying Manuka honey once the chafed skin’s been washed with water, given Manuka honey allegedly has antibiotic properties that may help kill the right kind of bacteria.
Help Chafed Skin to Heal
To help your skin heal, you’ll want to go with a traditional, FDA-approved chafing cream that doesn’t contain irritants like silicone, petroleum, wax, or preservatives. This will protect your skin from further damage and help it to heal. Additionally, you also need to keep away from things that trigger or cause chafing. As stated previously, chafing is the result of friction, which is why the armpits, the inner thighs, and other places where skin meets are common chafing areas. Chafing also gets worse when damaged skin must deal with pressure, force, being pressed up against moisture, or sweat.
Prevent Chafing
It’s okay to take advantage of the moments that are free of chafed skin, but it’s also wise to be sure it doesn’t reoccur. If you don’t, you’ll have to start the painful, tedious cycle all over again of disinfecting and applying ointment to your chafed skin. The following are what you should avoid in order to prevent skin chafing in the future:
- Wearing loose or tight clothes or materials that don’t wick moisture away.
- Wearing wet or sweaty clothes.
- Not using active, dry-fit garments when exercising.
- Wearing unsuitable garments during swimming.
- Wearing tight-fit shoes or heels.
- Humid areas that amplify sweating.
- Being exposed to salt deposits from sea water or sweat.
Additionally, the following factors can also increase the probability of developing chafed skin:
- Wearing diapers or napkins.
- Wearing skirts.
- Haphazard participation in sports like running or biking.
- Obesity
If you’ve suffered from skin chafing in the past, specifically on your thighs, the use of anti-chafing creams, as well as anti-chafing shorts together, may help prevent reoccurrence.
Photo By sportpoint74
