Chafing can be defined as a skin irritation, which is caused by repeated rubbing. Chafing generally occurs around the groin, underarms and nipples. However, it can occur anywhere in the body where a part has rubbed against something. Anyone can experience chafing but chafing is particular problem in people with overweight and who are in athletes. If chafed skin lasts more than couple of days even after the original source of irritation has been removed, one should contact dermatologist.
In other words, chafing is nothing but the soreness or irritation of the skin that is caused by friction. This friction could be caused due to rubbing of two bodily parts, clothes etc. It is a wrong concept that chafing is a sign of weight loss. Prevention is the best and effective way to treat chafing.
Causes of Chafing
- Rubbing against anything
- Tight clothes
- Obesity or overweight
- Poorly fitted undergarments such as bra
- Skin areas rubbing each other as in groin and underarms
- Poor hygienic condition
Home Remedies for Chafing - Chafing Cures
One should avoid wearing rough-cut and coarse clothes. It is advisable to put-on 100% cotton fabric rather than a synthetic blend of other materials, as it may cause irritation to the skin. This is one of the effective home remedies for chafing.
One of the reasons having home remedies for chafing is having excess weight around inner thighs and arms as it causes friction leading to chafing. For this, one needs to loose some weight around such areas.
If one sweats too much while working out, an idea that may work will be working out in the evenings to provide a much cooler impact on the body.
Chafing treatment - One should always wash the clothes before wearing to keep oneself at bay from chafing. Dry sweat and chemicals can be important reasons for irritation.
Basic home remedy for chafing includes drinking plenty of water. This will avoid dehydration and will allow you to hydrate in a proper manner.
One should put-on loose-fitting clothes as it keeps the skin cool and dry.
As far as innerwear is concerned, women can quit wearing pantyhose and men should switch onto boxers to keep the groin area free from friction.
The best home remedy for chafing is to stay dry. One can use talcum powder or cornstarch for it.
Home made lubricants are also useful and serve as natural remedy for chafing. For this, mix one cup each of A & D ointment and Vaseline. Then add 1/4th cup each of vitamin E cream and Aloe vera cream to enhance the consistency and good fragrance. This ointment will work great on the skin and will help in healing and prevention of blister.
The useful chafing remedy is one can also apply petroleum jelly to the chafing prone areas that will avoid rubbing and friction between skin folds.
Another good home remedy for chaffing is calendula oil. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal oil. Calendula oil is well known for its healing properties on the skin. It is of great help to cleanse skin irritation due to chafing.
Another effective natural remedy for chafing is Zinc oxide is an inexpensive paste that treats chafing condition. Once applied, one can remove the zinc oxide with an application of olive oil or mineral oil to that can wipe it off.