Excessive friction against the thighs can happen while long walks wearing tight dresses, skirts, or shorts, as there will be no physical barrier between the legs, as a result the skin becomes irritated. This is called inner thigh chafing and is intensified during the summer, as the levels of sweat, heat and humidity are higher. It can also happen during exercises such as running or cycling, or while crossing the legs, after shaving or in people who are overweight or have large thigh muscles.
As this friction damages the skin of that region, besides the irritation, an inflammatory process can happen and symptoms -such as redness, itching, formation of rashes, blisters, boils, localized pain, swelling, burning sensation and hyperpigmentation- may appear.
To prevent these inconveniences, many specialized products are now available in the stores and in many different formulas. The most popular ones are in lotions, solid sticks, balms, and powders. They act by protecting the friction between the inner thighs and avoiding the chafing, so you can perform your activities safely. Don’t forget to reapply in case your product is not water or sweat proof!
If you do not have access to a proper product, some home remedies can be used to calm and help the skin healing process. Baby powder and lip balms with petroleum jelly are recommended to be applied in the area, as well as cornstarch, aloe vera gel and moisturizers.
It is important to remember to clean the area before applying any type of products, avoid scratching the damaged area and to seek a doctor if the skin irritation develops to open sores and infections, as proper medications will be required to treat more serious cases.
About the Author: MSci Maísa Melo is a Pharmacist and a current PhD student in cosmetic technology, from São Paulo, Brazil. She has earned her master’s degree from the University of São Paulo and has been involved with the development, stability, safety and efficacy of cosmetics since 2013. She has specialized in the clinical efficacy of cosmetics by biophysical and skin imaging techniques as well as the use of alternative models to animal testing. Her research work has been published in several scientific journals and book chapters from the field.
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