Relief and Remedies: Chafed Skin Treatment

It may not officially qualify as an onomatopoeia, but it’s one of those words that makes you kind of cringe and feel uncomfortable when you say it—chafed. It’s one of those things that doesn’t seem like such a big deal, until it’s happening to you. And then, oh boy, what you won’t do to find some real relief to soothe your chafed skin. 

Chafing happens when skin rubs against skin or against another surface repeatedly—causing friction—and then some type of moisture is introduce. The combination of the rubbing and the moisture results in chafed skin which gets red, irritated and causes plenty of discomfort.

Not surprisingly, the areas most prone to chafing are:

• Thighs
• Groin 
• Buttocks
• Armpits 

It also doesn’t take a detective to figure out WHAT is causing the chafing. Some of the most obvious causes of chafed skin are:

• Excess Weight-carrying extra weight can cause the skin in these areas to rub against itself or clothing and cause irritation. 
• Exercise - particularly jogging, cycling or even swimming, due to the quick repetitive motions along with perspiration.
• Clothing- garments that have a very snug fit can cause the skin beneath to rub and cause that friction to occur.
• Diapers - if they are too small and/or very wet, they can cause the baby’s sensitive skin in the groin or behind to get chafed and irritated.

If you are having an issue with chafed skin, it’s best not to neglect it. Leaving it untreated and waiting for it to heal is not recommended, as it could worsen and possibly lead to a skin infection.

Step 1 should be to gently clean the affected area well and give it lots of air and leave it uncovered as long as possible. 

Next, choose from one or more of the following simple, affordable and easily accessible remedies that can offer relief in no time.

Aloe Vera Gel is found naturally inside the leaves of a live aloe plant and has amazing healing properties. You can just break open one of the leaves and take the gel right from a plant if you’ve got one at home, or buy some in a local drug store and gently apply it to the chafed areas.

Corn Starch is a fine powder and when applied to the skin can help soothe and absorb moisture. Stay away from the “baby powders” that have loads of added chemicals and fragrances and stick with the simplest products possible to avoid any further skin reactions.

Shea Butter has anti-inflammatory and healing properties and is very nourishing to the skin. A high quality moisturizing cream that contains Shea Butter works wonders to help heal chafed skin and will also keep healthy skin from drying out if used on a daily basis.

Essential Oils have powerful healing properties. Some have stronger scents than others, so you can give them each a sniff and decide which ones appeal to you. Tea tree oil works beautifully to heal many skin problems, but the smell can be too much for some people. It can also be combined with Lavender or Calendula oils to reduce the strong smell, and the combination of these essential oils are remarkable.

Give one or more of these options a fair chance at providing some comfort and relief if you’ve got a problem with chafing. If you find your skin is not responding kindly to these treatment options, then you may want to consult with a dermatologist for some help. They may prescribe a medicated topical cream to help get the situation under control and avoid infection.

About the author: Yaffa Baslaw (@yadeinu) is a Freelance Writer with over a decade of experience copywriting and blogging compelling content. She has written for more than 20 companies in the fields of healthcare, skincare, and retail.