Chafed Skin

Chafing is irritation caused to the outer layer of the skin due to repeated rubbing. This is a common occurrence in men and women. The armpits, thighs, and the groin are the regions that are frequently affected as they are close together. This irritation is caused when the skin rubs against skin or clothes. There are many ways to prevent chafing and there are ways to treat chafed skin.

Athletes and overweight people, essentially people whose skin comes a lot in contact with skin and clothes, are more prone to chafed skin. Excessive sweating, chemicals, dirt, tight clothing, synthetic clothing, wet clothing all cause the skin to become chafed. The main symptom of chafed skin is excessive irritation and itching, followed by inflammation. The area becomes red and very painful. It needs to be treated promptly in order to avoid further skin disorders. Generally, it takes two to three days for the skin to heal completely. If the problem persists, it's recommended that you visit your doctor for proper treatment. Let us look into some relief measures.

Treatment

• Apply some petroleum jelly on the area and it will soothe inflammation on the skin.
• Baby oil and baby powder helps to reduce the irritation on the skin and also ensures skin care.
• Let the chafed area breathe i.e. do not cover it. When it is given some free space, the sore skin heals faster.
• Elastic wrap prevents the skin on skin friction. Use these wraps if you tend to have chafed skin between legs.
• After your bath, apply some zinc oxide in the area which becomes chafed. Use olive oil to remove the zinc oxide.
• Drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated. This will reduce the chances of skin chafing.
• Avoid doing things that cause you to sweat profusely. Sweating makes the skin worse by increasing the inflammation.
• Wear cotton clothes so that your skin breathes freely. Avoid wearing synthetic clothes.
• Don't wear tight underwear as it is the main reason for chafed skin near the groin area.
• If you are overweight, reduce your weight so that your problems reduce significantly. Indulge in water exercises like swimming and water aerobics as this will not only stop your skin from chafing, but will also reduce your weight.
• It is advisable for the athletes to apply some protective substance like skin creams with aloe vera, aloe vera gel or petroleum jelly before starting off.
• Natural and herbal medicines are available over the counter which are to be consumed. However, do not take any of these unless you check with your doctor.

As mentioned above, if your condition persists and does not heal even after all these treatments and precautions, seek medical help before the problem turns nasty.

Remedies

There are many home remedies for getting relief from chafed skin too. Take a look at them and try them out to experience immediate relief.

• Applying calendula ointment or calendula oil on the chafed area will provide relief.
• Make an ointment from petroleum jelly, aloe vera gel, and vitamin E cream. Mix all these thoroughly and keep it ready in a jar. Use it after your bath, daily.
• Massage your body with almond oil to moisturize it to avoid skin from chafing.
• Lavender oil and tea tree oil are the other well-known home remedies.
• Another inexpensive and quickest way to get relief is by applying cornstarch to the affected area. The cornstarch absorbs the moisture and leaves the skin clean and dry.
• You can also apply rose oil or water to the area after thoroughly cleaning it with warm water and antibacterial soap.
• Increase the amount of vitamin C in your diet so that the skin does not get chafed.
• Add ground oats into a bathtub full of warm water and take a relaxing bath. This is a good way to relieve the soreness and inflammation.
• Wash the area with warm water and apply some lemon balm on it to soothe the irritation.
• You can try using some aromatherapy oils to reduce the inflammation and irritation in the affected area.

The above treatments will definitely help you in getting relief from chafed skin. In order to avoid getting your skin chafed, use mild detergents to wash your clothes, use gentle soaps and body washes and try to wear cotton clothes as much as possible. This will minimize the friction and the skin will not be chafed.