E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Chafing

Skin irritation from rubbing

Chafing is skin irritation that occurs where skin rubs against skin, clothing, or other material.

Information

When rubbing causes skin irritation, these tips may help:

  • Avoid coarse clothing. Wearing 100% cotton fabric against your skin may help.
  • Reduce friction against your skin by wearing the right kind of clothing for the activity you are doing (for example, athletic tights for running or cycling shorts for biking).
  • Avoid activities that cause chafing unless they are part of your typical lifestyle, exercise, or sports routine.
  • Wear clean and dry clothing. Dried sweat, chemicals, dirt, and other debris may cause irritation.
  • Use petroleum jelly or baby powder on chafed areas until the skin heals. You can also use these before activities to prevent chafing in easily irritated areas, for example, on your inner thighs or upper arms before running.
Open References

References

Franks RR. Skin problems in the athlete. In: Madden CC, Putukian M, McCarty EC, Young CC, eds. Netter's Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 40.

Smith ML. Environmental and sports-related skin diseases. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 88.

  • Chafing of the skin

    Chafing of the skin - illustration

    Chafing of the skin refers to red sore skin that has been irritated by something continuously rubbing against it. Wear appropriate clean clothes for activities like sports or exercise to avoid chafing. If chafing occurs, use petroleum jelly or talcum powder as a lubricant on the affected areas of the skin to temporarily alleviate the irritation.

    Chafing of the skin

    illustration

    • Chafing of the skin

      Chafing of the skin - illustration

      Chafing of the skin refers to red sore skin that has been irritated by something continuously rubbing against it. Wear appropriate clean clothes for activities like sports or exercise to avoid chafing. If chafing occurs, use petroleum jelly or talcum powder as a lubricant on the affected areas of the skin to temporarily alleviate the irritation.

      Chafing of the skin

      illustration

     

    Review Date: 7/8/2023

    Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

    The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
    © 1997- adam.comAll rights reserved.

     
     
     

     

     

    A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
    Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.