How to Stop Chafing
Last Updated on September 1, 2020
Fitness freaks, rock climbers, bikers, obese people are quite familiar with chafing. People who are involved in vigorous physical activity for a long time and sweat profusely get chafing in different parts of the body. Chafing is a common skin problem.
It is an irritation on the skin which occurs due to skin-to-skin friction, skin-to-cloth friction, or moisture. Hot weather, sweat, moisture, water, tight accessories and clothes, sensitive skin, etc. causes chafing.
Any part of the body might get affected by chafing, but the thigh, underarms, groin, chest, back, waist, nipples get affected by it particularly. It is painful and hard to cope up with until it heals. It hampers the movement of the body due to severe irritation in the form of raw skins, blisters, and rashes.
Follow some tips as precautions. They are enough to stop irritation in the skin. Chafing is such a pain that it gives a horrifying experience even if it lasts for a couple of days. So, note down the precautions and tips we are going to discuss below and know how to stop chafing. We will talk about the cure besides prevention as well.
Keeping the Area Clean
A clean body is always healthy. The body parts which get less airflow must be taken special care. Wash the areas properly after every session of workout. An anti-bacterial soap might do wonders to protect the chafing prone skin.
Keeping it Dry
We always tend to either keep most of the areas moist after a bath or rub a towel vociferously to dry those areas. Both actions are wrong. The ideal thing to do is to pat dry the skin.
Talcum powder lessens profuse sweating. Do not let the sweat dry on the body. Take a shower right after the workouts. Pausing a bit in between bathing and dressing can also lessen sweating to an extent.
Lubrication
Lubricate the area that tends to rub with the clothes before going for cycling or running. Petroleum jelly, vaseline, and other sports lubricants can prevent skin frictions. Pretreat the high-friction areas with lubricates. Patches and tapes also prevent nipple chafing.
Wearing well-fitting dress
Both oversized and tight-fitting clothes are not ideal for workouts. Tight straps on the dresses also cause chafing. Wear clothes which properly fits on the body. Give reference to seamless clothes or clothes which have smooth seams during the workout. These simple steps can save you from painful chafing.
Keeping the body hydrated
Drinking a sufficient amount of water can prevent a lot of physical issues, and it is no different in the case of chafing. As you are involved in vigorous physical exercises, you tend to get dehydrated. Dehydration increases the concentration of the salt in your sweat, which results in chafing. Drink water during intervals.
Avoid Cotton
Cotton as a fabric provides comfort in day to day life but not during vigorous physical activities. Never wear cotton dresses during workouts. It holds moisture and takes a comparatively long time to dry the sweat. The more you stay wearing the sweaty fabric, the more the chances of chafing increases. So, avoid cotton and opt for synthetics.
Compression shorts
Good quality compression shorts eliminate the chances of chafing in the thigh and groin area. It prevents friction in those areas. Synthetic compression shorts are meant to wick moisture and reduce sweating. The stretchable fabric allows proper movement and airflow. Those who don’t have compression shorts can wear shorts with built-in briefs as an alternative.
Treating the affected area immediately
Even after all the precautions and preventions, it is normal to get chafing in different parts of the body. The sign of chafing is a burning sensation and redness in a particular area of the skin. The moment you feel a burning sensation, it must be taken seriously and treated immediately. Taking immediate measures can save you from pain and irritation.
Stop even the slightest chance of rubbing of the skin. Gently wash the affected skin with lukewarm water and mild soap. Pat dry the affected area, do not keep even a drop of moisture. Apply lubricant and change to a more comfortable dress. Here cotton dress works as a boon.
Rubbing and sweating can further worsen the affected skin and take time to heal, so try to avoid it. Keep the affected area exposed to the air to speed up the healing period. Avoid physical exercises or activities until the chafing is cured, further sweating can make the affected are prone to infection.
Final Words
Following some simple tips can prevent chafing but getting chafed after following the rules is also natural. As we discussed the procedure, healing is time-consuming but easy. It is always good to contact a doctor immediately after noticing the affected area for better guidance, especially if the area is bleeding or swollen.
Such wounds need medicated ointment. Little care prevents chafing, so be conscious. Do not let chafing hamper your regular life. So, follow the provided tips and tricks and have healthy and comfortable physical activities in the hottest of weather.
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