Chafing is a troublesome find for anyone who spends time being active during the day. Whether you’re an athlete or have a busy daily routine, dealing with chafing from time to time can be an irritating experience. But that doesn’t mean it should interfere with your life and cause you persistent discomfort. That’s why, in this post, we’re going to discuss how to treat chafing in the groin area in five easy steps.
We’ll talk about what causes chafing and then discuss some strategies you can use to achieve comfort and relief.
What Causes Chafing?
Chafing happens when there’s a prolonged period of skin-to-skin contact. This is especially likely in the area between your inner thighs, armpits, or groin. If the two surfaces are rubbing up against each other constantly during the day, a mild case of chafing may result. Symptoms are generally an itchy, irritated area that may look red compared to the skin around it. The skin isn’t meant to endure all this constant friction.
This is made worse by perspiration; pretty much all areas of the skin contain sweat glands, and as chafing areas sweat, they become sticky and provide friction so that two surfaces of skin can’t slide against each other. However, more than simply being uncomfortable, this can also make the skin more vulnerable to bacterial infection. A moist, hot, compromised layer of skin is the perfect place for bacteria and yeast to infiltrate.
How Do I Treat Chafing In The Groin Area?
We’ve listed five useful tricks you can use to treat and get rid of chafing entirely.
1. Get Some Rest!
The fastest way of alleviating discomfort due to chafing is to stop the physical activity that’s causing it in the first place. This is especially if you’re exercising or moving around as part of your job. Let the area breathe and cool down, and allow it to dry.
2. Use Anti-Inflammatory Cream To Relieve Symptoms
The groin area is particularly susceptible to bacterial and yeast infection since damp environments are perfect for their growth. After cleaning and drying the area, you can use an over-the-counter anti-fungal cream such as Lotrimin to soothe inflammation.
3. Prevent Chafing by Lubricating Before Physical Activity
Lubrication is key to minimizing friction. You can use powders specifically designed for the purpose, some of which have anti-fungal properties. Powders also help minimize moisture in the groin area. Alternatively, you can use a lubricating balm, such as BodyGlide, that specifically reduces friction. Even Vaseline will do.
4. Moisturize Regularly
Moisturizing the skin is a good way to calm the irritation caused by chafing. It will also protect the vulnerable chafed area until it heals.
5. Wear Breathable Fabrics
To prevent chafing, it’s important to eliminate the conditions of moisture and friction that cause it. Wearing breathable clothing will ensure you don’t sweat and develop too much moisture as you go about your day. If you’re working out, wearing clothes with moisture-wicking properties will help keep sweat off of your body.
Conclusion
Chafing is, unfortunately, a natural part of life for people with active lifestyles, but with a little bit of care, it is entirely preventable. Living a healthy, busy lifestyle shouldn’t cause you any discomfort, and adopting some of our tips could mean you stay cool, dry, and comfortable in your skin.
This post is brought to you by Care Dermatology. We pride ourselves on offering an excellent dermatology practice in Florida, and our experts are here to help you with all of your skin concerns. If you have any questions, please call one of our offices, and we’ll be happy to help.
You can reach us at (352) 612-1722 for our Fruitland Park location or (352) 218-3211 for our location at The Villages. You can reach our Kissimmee location at (407) 553-3979.