Chafing Treatment | How To Prevent Chafing?

Chafing is a term used to refer to skin irritation caused by the friction occurring between body parts or between the body and the clothes. Often the skin of one body part rubs against another because of the deposit of excessive fat under the skin. Wearing tight clothes also prevents free circulation of air around the skin and causes irritation. Chafing mostly occurs in body joints like the armpits and the groin. Chafing causes the thin outer layer of the skin to be bruised and become painful if left untreated.

Home Remedies For Chafing Cure

• Prevention is the best way of dealing with this problem. If you are overweight, knock off those extra kilos, especially around the waist, hips and thighs, by following a rigorous regime of diet and exercise.


• Also, if you are into active sports, avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes or those made of synthetic material, as these hamper ventilation of air through the fabric and cause chafing by trapping the sweat.


• Wearing poorly fitted undergarments can often cause chafing, so make sure your inner garments are not too tight.


• Always use talcum powder, especially around body joints, before exercising, as these prevent the skin from becoming excessively moist due to perspiration.


• Make sure that you observe proper personal hygiene by bathing and washing every body part thoroughly after exercising.


• Never wear clothes that have not been properly washed, as accumulated sweat and dirt particles often irritate the skin and cause chafing.


• Also, make sure that you drink plenty of water every day, as this regulates the rate at which you perspire.


• The best way of treating chafed skin is to clean it gently with lukewarm water and antibacterial soap. You can then apply an antiseptic ointment or lotion on the area and cover it with a sterile gauze or band-aid.


• A deficiency of nutrients like vitamin A and C also make the skin more prone to chafing, so include natural sources of these vitamins in your diet, such as citrus fruits, green and leafy vegetables, carrots, mangoes, spinach, potatoes and eggs.


• You may also apply calendula oil on the chafed area, as it has antibacterial and antifungal properties that soothe the skin and help in healing it quickly.


• Alternatively, gently rub the affected area with a paste made of zinc oxide powder and water and leave it on till it dries. Then wipe it off with a piece of cotton cloth or wool dabbed in olive oil or mineral oil.