Chafing is a type of skin irritation that can happen when skin rubs together or against clothing, causing symptoms like redness and rashes.
It usually affects areas of the body most prone to repeated friction from skin-to-skin or skin-to-clothing contact, such as the inner thighs, buttocks, or underarms. It’s often worsened by heat, humidity, sweat, and moisture.
Chafing can be treated and prevented through lifestyle changes, including over-the-counter treatments or certain types of clothing. Severe symptoms may need medical treatment.
Chafing typically occurs on parts of the body where friction against skin or clothing is more likely to happen. These areas include:
- Breasts: People with large breasts or who are overweight are more likely to experience breast chafing, especially from exercise, sweat, or ill-fitting bras.
- Nipples: Nipple chafing may affect people who are breastfeeding, chestfeeding, or pumping, because of friction. In some cases, it may lead to swelling, bleeding, or crusting. Nipple chafing can also affect long-distance runners and is sometimes called “jogger’s nipple.”
- Armpits: Exercise involving repetitive arm movements — such as running, walking, or lifting weights — can lead to armpit chafing, especially when combined with sweat.
- Thighs: Inner thigh chafing happens when the thighs rub together, creating an uncomfortable patch of raw-feeling skin.
- Feet: You may experience foot chafing while breaking in new shoes or standing on your feet all day. Foot chafing occurs when the feet or toes repeatedly rub against shoes or sandal straps. This repeated friction can cause blisters (areas of irritated, torn skin that swell and bubble up). You may deal with chafing and blisters on the feet more often in hot weather, when your feet are more prone to sweating.
- Groin: People of any gender are prone to groin chafing due to a combination of frequent friction and moisture in sensitive areas like the penis or vaginal area.
- Buttocks: Both babies and adults can experience butt chafing. It often happens between the buttocks, where buttocks graze against materials like clothing and diapers, and where the bottom part of the buttocks meet the back of the thighs. In babies, butt chafing can lead to diaper rash if unaddressed. Chafing in adults is commonly caused by running, squatting, or hiking.
The signs and symptoms of chafing may include:
- A red, itchy rash
- Raised bumps
- A hot, stinging, or burning feeling on the affected area
- Tender skin
- Excessive irritation
- Flaky, dry skin
In severe cases of chafing, you may notice:
- Blisters
- Torn, cracked, or broken skin
- Welts
- Swelling of the affected area and its surroundings
- Muscle pain around the affected area
- Bleeding
- Secondary skin infections (infections that can occur on damaged skin)
You may be at higher risk of chafing for a number of reasons. Causes and risk factors for chafing include:
- Frequent exercise: The more you exercise, the more likely you are to experience chafing, because sweat and repetitive motion cause friction between your skin and clothes. One study found that chafing was among the most common skin problems in athletes, along with blistering, dryness, and redness.
- Tight, irritating clothing: Clothes that are too tight and restrictive can rub against your skin and cause chafing and irritation. Certain fabrics that don’t wick away sweat or are abrasive to the skin can also cause rashes. This applies to shoes that are too big or too small, too.
- High body weight: People with overweight, obesity, or those who have lost a large amount of weight may be more prone to chafing. They’re also at an increased risk of intertrigo, an inflamed rash caused by skin-to-skin chafing in areas where the skin folds or creases, such as the breasts, belly, and neck.
- Breastfeeding: As mentioned, people who are nursing may experience nipple chafing when they’re breastfeeding, chestfeeding, or pumping.
- Warm weather: Hot and humid temperatures can cause excess sweating. When paired with friction on the skin, the combination can quickly lead to chafing.
You may be able to identify mild cases of chafing without seeing a doctor: It’s easy to tell it apart from other rashes because of its location on your body. In minor cases of chafing, you may notice a rash, skin that’s warm or hot to the touch, or torn skin with blisters or sores.
See a dermatologist or another healthcare professional if chafing leads to symptoms like a red rash or itching, stinging, or burning in the affected area, as this could indicate intertrigo and become infected.
If you have chafing, do your best to limit or stop the activity that creates friction in the affected area. Clean the area of sweat and moisture and pat it dry. You can then treat the affected skin according to the severity of irritation.
Over-the-Counter Therapies
Nonprescription topical treatments and ointments are the most common ways to treat mild chafing and irritated skin. These include:
- Aloe vera: Aloe is a plant that’s often used to soothe irritated skin, sunburns, and other wounds. You can apply aloe vera gel to clean, dry skin for a calming effect. Avoid products with alcohol, which can be irritating.
- Petroleum jelly: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends petroleum jelly to help injured skin heal from cuts, scrapes, scratches, and irritation. It also can stop chafing and prevent blisters from forming.
- Shea butter: Moisture-rich creams like shea butter can soothe irritated skin.
- Zinc oxide: Cream ointments with zinc oxide can calm the skin and create a protective barrier to prevent chafing.
Medications
If chafing leads to blisters, torn and cracked skin, intertrigo, or infections, your doctor may recommend medicine to help. These can include:
- Antifungal and antibacterial creams: If you have a skin infection, your doctor may recommend a cream to kill fungal or bacterial overgrowth.
- Oral medications: Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics or antifungal medications in the case of an infection.
There are measures you can take to prevent chafing. They include:
- Avoid coarse fabrics and materials that may irritate your skin. Opt for 100 percent cotton to soak up moisture and sweat and offer your skin breathability, especially in hot weather.
- Wear appropriate clothing for the activity you’re doing, such as athletic tights for running.
- Wear clean, dry clothing, and keep your skin as clean and dry as possible. If you’re working out or exposed to hot temperatures, bring a towel to wipe off sweat and wear moisture-wicking fabrics to keep you cool. Dried sweat and dirt can also cause irritation, worsening chafing.
- Before getting active, use baby powder, anti-chafing cream, or anti-chafing sticks on areas of your skin that are prone to chafing. You can apply petroleum jelly, athletic tape, or bandages over your nipples for protection.
- Wear moisture-wicking socks and choose properly-fitting, comfortable shoes before getting active. This can also prevent painful blisters from forming.
- If a certain exercise or activity causes chafing, look for an alternative that doesn’t trigger skin irritation.
- Change out of sweaty clothes and shoes soon after a workout. Wearing them for too long can irritate your skin.
Chafing is easily treated with over-the-counter products and lifestyle adjustments in most cases. Occasionally, prescription medication may be needed if the skin becomes infected. If you have chafing, try to avoid activities or clothing that may be causing skin friction. To manage chafing, change out of clothing or footwear that may be irritating the skin, clean the affected area, and apply a gentle lubricant to protect and heal the skin. If chafing results in open wounds or if you think your skin may be infected, see your healthcare provider.
Chafing is typically a minor condition. But it may lead to complications in some cases, such as:
- Blisters and sores: If irritated skin tears, blisters or sores may form. You may need medication if a blister becomes infected.
- Intertrigo: Intertrigo, an inflamed rash that happens in areas where the skin folds, can lead to infection that spreads to other parts of the body. These can include candida or Staphylococcus aureus.
- Jock itch: Jock itch is a fungal infection caused by chafing combined with the same fungus linked to athlete’s foot. It’s characterized by an itchy rash in warm, moist areas of the body like the groin. The rash may spread to the upper thighs and buttocks and can lead to small blisters or areas of scaly, discolored skin.
- Diaper rash: Persistent chafing on a baby’s bottom can trigger diaper rash, or patches of inflamed, itchy skin on the buttocks, thighs, and genitals. In some cases, sores can develop.
As mentioned, chafing is common, especially among athletes. For instance, research suggests about 42 percent of long-distance runners have dealt with chafing, making it one of the most prevalent skin issues for runners, after blisters.
