People who are overweight or those who like to exercise a lot have at one point or another suffered from chafed skin. This painful irritation on the skin is often as a result of skin rubbing against itself or clothes. Chaffing can occur anywhere in the body including:
- Thighs
- Groin
- Underarms
- Nipples
The good news is that following Chafing treatment tips from Medi-dyne can get rid of the pain that comes with chafed skin.
Preventing skin chafing
Since the main cause of skin chafing is friction on the skin, the best way to prevent chafing from happening is by minimizing the proportion of friction. Here are some things that can help:
- Stay hydrated, this helps people to perspire freely during regular walks, runs, or workouts. This minimizes the risk of sweat drying into particles that facilitate resistance and friction.
- Stay dry. Wetness on the skin only makes the situation worse. Some of the areas that are most prone to chafing are places with crevices like armpits and crotch. To reduce wetness, one should use an absorbent like baby powder.
- Lubricate the most vulnerable areas to help reduce friction. Wherever possible, find a product that has no odor and doesn’t leave residue on clothes.
- Wear appropriate and properly fitting clothes that are made using synthetic fibers. Loose-fitting clothes may feel great when participating in outdoor activities but to minimize chafing one has to wear snug fit clothes. Ensure that the clothes are seamless or have flat seams in the areas that are most prone to chafing.
Treating skin chafing
Chafed skin is treatable following some Chafing treatment tips from Medi-dyne. Id the condition is ignored, it has the potential of getting worse and resulting in an infection. Here are some Chafing treatment tips from Medi-dyne:
- Clean the chafed area gently with mild soap and clean water. Avoid cleaning the area with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
- Gently dry the area and allow it to air out
- Apply a light layer of petroleum jelly on the area after it has dried
- Cover the area with a gauze pad if necessary
- Even after the area has healed, the continued application of petroleum jelly keeps the skin healthy.
When to see a doctor
If following the tips listed above doesn’t seem to help, one should see a doctor. He will recommend the best treatment plan available. It’s highly likely that one of the medications that will be prescribed will include an antibiotic ointment.
Visit a doctor after noticing any of the following symptoms:
- Painful sores
- Swollen
- Bleeding
- Crusted skin
Conclusion
Chafed skin is often red, raw, and tender. One should stop whatever they’re doing as soon as they feel chaffing starting. There are several things that can be done to prevent and treat chafing. After successfully following Chafing treatment tips from Medi-dyne, the skin will get better in no time. In the meantime, it’s best to give the skin some time to heal completely before resuming normal activities. Repetitive rubbing and continuous friction will only make the situation worse.
