Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesComplicationsDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionCopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
Preventing skin chafing can be as simple as keeping areas of the body that tend to rub together dry, using a lubricant that can reduce friction such as petroleum jelly, and dressing appropriately to reduce further irritation or skin-on-skin rubbing.
What Chafing Looks and Feels Like
A chafing rash is often mild. You can usually get rid of chafing without a visit to the healthcare provider. In some cases, though, if the activity that led to the chafing continues, the symptoms can worsen and an infection may develop.
Underarm chafingFrequent motion combined with a build-up of sweat makes the underarms especially prone to chafing. You may experience underarm chafing when working outside in a humid environment or exercising.
Underarm chafing
Frequent motion combined with a build-up of sweat makes the underarms especially prone to chafing. You may experience underarm chafing when working outside in a humid environment or exercising.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Mild Symptoms
Mild symptoms of skin chafing may not be noticeable at first. They may only become obvious when the skin in the affected area rubs against another surface.
A mild case of chafed skin looks like a red rash. In more severe cases, chafed skin may look swollen, or it may bleed or crust over. Symptoms can include:
When the chafing begins to heal, you may notice an itchy sensation as the skin repairs itself. Chafed skin takes one to two days to heal, as long as it is treated immediately. If you leave chafed skin unattended or continue to participate in activities that exacerbate it, the chafed area can take longer to heal or become worse over time.
Severe Symptoms
Severe symptoms of chafed skin include:
Cracked, broken, or bleeding skin is an indication that the skin has been worn down to an extreme degree. It may require special care and antibiotic creams or ointments. Similarly, blisters or sores will require special care. They may need to be wrapped and protected to prevent them from popping and causing an open wound that could lead to an infection.
Identifying an Underarm Rash From Pictures
The skin can withstand a certain level of friction in daily activities like exercise, but there is a limit. When the skin continues to rub against other parts of the body or surfaces without pause, eventually chafing occurs. Some notable causes of the condition include:
Other factors like sensitive skin, hot weather, and excess moisture from sweat or water sports may also lead to chafed skin.
Chafing may be a common skin irritation, but it will progress to more serious skin conditions and infections if left unchecked.
Intertrigo
The symptoms of chafed skin and intertrigo are similar, but intertrigo can be more severe and lead to a rash or oozing skin that is raw and itchy, a strong and unpleasant odor, and cracked skin. It can also lead to other complications such as a yeast or bacterial infection.
Intertrigo comes with a number of similar but worsened symptoms of chafing, such as:
Intertrigo can lead to other skin infections that require further treatment, includingCandida,Streptococcus, anderythrasma.
Infection
Because chafing can lead to the protective layer of the skin being damaged or destroyed, it can leave the body exposed to further infection if it is left untreated. Chafing is not a serious condition but it can lead to an infection if there is an open wound.
Speak with a healthcare provider about possible treatment and prevention options if there is bleeding, swelling, redness or other discoloration, pain, warmth, discharge of pus, or crusting of the skin.
Types of Bacterial Skin Infections and How to Treat Them
The skin is a protective organ for the whole body. It needs to be in an optimal condition to avoid any lasting friction that could lead to damage. Chafing can become worse if the area is warm and moist since moisture can aid in the breaking down and damaging of the skin.
Friction Burns
A severe form of chafing is often referred to as a friction burn, which is when the skin is scraped off through contact with another surface. A friction burn is usually both an abrasion and a heat burn. Friction burns may increase the risk of a skin infection because they often leave an open wound. They may result in temporary or permanent scarring of the skin.
It is easy to self-diagnose skin chafing at home, especially in the case of mild irritation. The rash itself is red, and can present with mild or burning pain, especially when it is touched. It’s generally easy to distinguish between other rashes because of where it occurs on the body and its gradual onset. The rash becomes worse the more the skin chafes, so the progression and source can be easy to pin down.
Chafed Skin Treatment
When it comes to chafed skin, many people opt for home remedies. Home remedies for chafed skin are easily accessible and effective if the nature of the rash is not severe. But medical treatment options are available if the rash progresses, and they should be explored in cases of infection.
Home Remedies
In a minor case of skin chafing, a home remedy and complete avoidance of any activity that will exacerbate the symptoms will be enough to get relief from chafing and eliminate the rash and painful burning.
Before beginning treatment for your chafed skin, you will want to clean the affected area thoroughly to keep infection at bay. There are a wide variety of OTC creams for chafing relief, including:
Home remedies can be effective for getting rid of chafing if the rash is mild, but if the condition doesn’t clear up after treatment, you may need to speak to your healthcare provider about other options.
Medical Treatment
In the event that the chafing is more serious, a healthcare provider may recommend a medicated ointment to help clear up the infection and soothe the pain and burning associated with chafed skin.
A treatment regimen for each case will be different, so it’s important for those with severe or prolonged chafing to speak with a healthcare provider about options that work for them.
How to Prevent Chafing
Keep Moisture at Bay
Limit moisture during exercise and daily life. If you are active, choose breathable workout clothes. Synthetic fabrics labeled “moisture-wicking,” for example, will carry sweat away from your body.
Deodorants will also help keep moisture at bay, and they can act as a barrier between layers of skin, reducing friction.
Wear the Right Clothing
Your clothing may both cause chafing and prevent it. Clothes with tight seams can rub against your skin, causing irritation. Clothing with a looser fit won’t create friction.
If your inner thighs are chafing during high-intensity activities like running, choose legwear that prevents skin-to-skin contact, such as compression shorts.
Use Anti-Chafing Products
Apply petroleum jelly to your inner thighs or the other parts of your body that are vulnerable to chafing. You can also use products designed specifically for chafing, like natural (non-talcum) powders or anti-chafing sticks.
Chafing is a common and normal part of life, and the best way to cope with chafing is through prevention. Chronic chafing can occur for a variety of reasons, but it can be easy to manage. Take note of which area in your body is prone to chafe and which of your daily activities most often lead to chafing. Then plan on buying products and clothes that will be most effective at limiting chafing in your daily life. Weight management could also be an option if excess weight is the cause of chafing.
If chafing does occur even with preventive measures in place, treating the affected area immediately is important to preventing mild symptoms from progressing to severe ones and complications like infections.
A Word From Verywell
Skin chafing can happen to children and adults, and can be hard to deal with if it is recurrent or chronic. With the right prevention steps that limit chafing and moisture and effective at-home treatments, however, chafed skin can be easily managed.
Chafing won’t heal overnight, but if you stop the activity that’s causing the chafing and start treatment right away, it may take only a day or two for your symptoms to clear up. Prompt treatment is also necessary to limit the risk of an infection and prevent it from becoming a serious health problem.
A healthcare provider can provide advice on solutions if an infection does occur. Investing in anti-chafe products can also be a good solution.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNot always, but you may if the chafing is very severe or home remedies have failed. Topical steroids reduce the inflammatory response.Learn MoreHow to Get Rid of BlistersAbsorbent sports powders or those made with cornstarch can help you avoid getting chafed. Use it under your arms, under breasts, around the groin, and between any skin folds. Women should avoid talcum power, which has been linked to ovarian cancer in some studies (although the research is not conclusive).Learn MoreFacts About Talc and CancerIf the area becomes increasingly red and more inflamed, a patch of intertrigo may be infected. You may also experience oozing, cracks, maceration (when skin looks soft and soggy), or crusting.If the irritation is between folds of skin, a foul odor may develop when the area becomes infected.Learn MoreCauses of Skin Redness
Not always, but you may if the chafing is very severe or home remedies have failed. Topical steroids reduce the inflammatory response.Learn MoreHow to Get Rid of Blisters
Not always, but you may if the chafing is very severe or home remedies have failed. Topical steroids reduce the inflammatory response.
Learn MoreHow to Get Rid of Blisters
Absorbent sports powders or those made with cornstarch can help you avoid getting chafed. Use it under your arms, under breasts, around the groin, and between any skin folds. Women should avoid talcum power, which has been linked to ovarian cancer in some studies (although the research is not conclusive).Learn MoreFacts About Talc and Cancer
Absorbent sports powders or those made with cornstarch can help you avoid getting chafed. Use it under your arms, under breasts, around the groin, and between any skin folds. Women should avoid talcum power, which has been linked to ovarian cancer in some studies (although the research is not conclusive).
Learn MoreFacts About Talc and Cancer
If the area becomes increasingly red and more inflamed, a patch of intertrigo may be infected. You may also experience oozing, cracks, maceration (when skin looks soft and soggy), or crusting.If the irritation is between folds of skin, a foul odor may develop when the area becomes infected.Learn MoreCauses of Skin Redness
If the area becomes increasingly red and more inflamed, a patch of intertrigo may be infected. You may also experience oozing, cracks, maceration (when skin looks soft and soggy), or crusting.If the irritation is between folds of skin, a foul odor may develop when the area becomes infected.
Learn MoreCauses of Skin Redness
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bury K, Leavy JE, O’Connor A, Jancey J.Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Saddle Sores among Female Competitive Cyclists: A Scoping Review Protocol.Methods Protoc. 2020 Jan 6;3(1):4. doi: 10.3390/mps3010004.Kottner J, Everink I, van Haastregt J, Blume-Peytavi U, Schols J.Prevalence of intertrigo and associated factors: A secondary data analysis of four annual multicentre prevalence studies in the Netherlands.Int J Nurs Stud.2020 Apr;104:103437. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103437.Lebsing S, Chaiyarit J, Techasatian L.Diaper rashes can indicate systemic conditions other than diaper dermatitis.BMC Dermatol.2020 Sep 21;20(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12895-020-00104-z.Tüzün Y, Wolf R, Engin B, Keçici AS, Kutlubay Z.Bacterial infections of the folds (intertriginous areas).Clin Dermatol.2015 Jul-Aug;33(4):420-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.04.003.Ebady R. Niddam A.F. Boczula A. Simmons C. Skare J. Moriarty T.Biomechanics ofBorrelia burgdorferivasucular interactions.Cell Reports2016 Sept; 16(10) P2593-2604. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.013Agrawal A, Raibagkar SC, Vora HJ.Friction burns: epidemiology and prevention.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2008;21(1):3-6.Mount Sinai.Aloe.Morales-Burgos A, Loosemore MP, Goldberg LH.Postoperative wound care after dermatologic procedures: a comparison of 2 commonly used petrolatum-based ointments.J Drugs Dermatol.2013 Feb;12(2):163-4.Verma N, Chakrabarti R, Das RH, Gautam HK.Anti-inflammatory effects of shea butter through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the Nf-κB pathway in LPS-activated J774 macrophage cells.J Complement Integr Med.2012 Jan 12;9:Article 4. doi: 10.1515/1553-3840.1574.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Steroids (Topical).American Cancer Society.Talcum Powder and Cancer.American Family Physician.Intertrigo and Common Secondary Skin Infections.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bury K, Leavy JE, O’Connor A, Jancey J.Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Saddle Sores among Female Competitive Cyclists: A Scoping Review Protocol.Methods Protoc. 2020 Jan 6;3(1):4. doi: 10.3390/mps3010004.Kottner J, Everink I, van Haastregt J, Blume-Peytavi U, Schols J.Prevalence of intertrigo and associated factors: A secondary data analysis of four annual multicentre prevalence studies in the Netherlands.Int J Nurs Stud.2020 Apr;104:103437. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103437.Lebsing S, Chaiyarit J, Techasatian L.Diaper rashes can indicate systemic conditions other than diaper dermatitis.BMC Dermatol.2020 Sep 21;20(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12895-020-00104-z.Tüzün Y, Wolf R, Engin B, Keçici AS, Kutlubay Z.Bacterial infections of the folds (intertriginous areas).Clin Dermatol.2015 Jul-Aug;33(4):420-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.04.003.Ebady R. Niddam A.F. Boczula A. Simmons C. Skare J. Moriarty T.Biomechanics ofBorrelia burgdorferivasucular interactions.Cell Reports2016 Sept; 16(10) P2593-2604. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.013Agrawal A, Raibagkar SC, Vora HJ.Friction burns: epidemiology and prevention.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2008;21(1):3-6.Mount Sinai.Aloe.Morales-Burgos A, Loosemore MP, Goldberg LH.Postoperative wound care after dermatologic procedures: a comparison of 2 commonly used petrolatum-based ointments.J Drugs Dermatol.2013 Feb;12(2):163-4.Verma N, Chakrabarti R, Das RH, Gautam HK.Anti-inflammatory effects of shea butter through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the Nf-κB pathway in LPS-activated J774 macrophage cells.J Complement Integr Med.2012 Jan 12;9:Article 4. doi: 10.1515/1553-3840.1574.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Steroids (Topical).American Cancer Society.Talcum Powder and Cancer.American Family Physician.Intertrigo and Common Secondary Skin Infections.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bury K, Leavy JE, O’Connor A, Jancey J.Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Saddle Sores among Female Competitive Cyclists: A Scoping Review Protocol.Methods Protoc. 2020 Jan 6;3(1):4. doi: 10.3390/mps3010004.Kottner J, Everink I, van Haastregt J, Blume-Peytavi U, Schols J.Prevalence of intertrigo and associated factors: A secondary data analysis of four annual multicentre prevalence studies in the Netherlands.Int J Nurs Stud.2020 Apr;104:103437. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103437.Lebsing S, Chaiyarit J, Techasatian L.Diaper rashes can indicate systemic conditions other than diaper dermatitis.BMC Dermatol.2020 Sep 21;20(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12895-020-00104-z.Tüzün Y, Wolf R, Engin B, Keçici AS, Kutlubay Z.Bacterial infections of the folds (intertriginous areas).Clin Dermatol.2015 Jul-Aug;33(4):420-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.04.003.Ebady R. Niddam A.F. Boczula A. Simmons C. Skare J. Moriarty T.Biomechanics ofBorrelia burgdorferivasucular interactions.Cell Reports2016 Sept; 16(10) P2593-2604. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.013Agrawal A, Raibagkar SC, Vora HJ.Friction burns: epidemiology and prevention.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2008;21(1):3-6.Mount Sinai.Aloe.Morales-Burgos A, Loosemore MP, Goldberg LH.Postoperative wound care after dermatologic procedures: a comparison of 2 commonly used petrolatum-based ointments.J Drugs Dermatol.2013 Feb;12(2):163-4.Verma N, Chakrabarti R, Das RH, Gautam HK.Anti-inflammatory effects of shea butter through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the Nf-κB pathway in LPS-activated J774 macrophage cells.J Complement Integr Med.2012 Jan 12;9:Article 4. doi: 10.1515/1553-3840.1574.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Steroids (Topical).American Cancer Society.Talcum Powder and Cancer.American Family Physician.Intertrigo and Common Secondary Skin Infections.
Bury K, Leavy JE, O’Connor A, Jancey J.Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Saddle Sores among Female Competitive Cyclists: A Scoping Review Protocol.Methods Protoc. 2020 Jan 6;3(1):4. doi: 10.3390/mps3010004.
Kottner J, Everink I, van Haastregt J, Blume-Peytavi U, Schols J.Prevalence of intertrigo and associated factors: A secondary data analysis of four annual multicentre prevalence studies in the Netherlands.Int J Nurs Stud.2020 Apr;104:103437. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103437.
Lebsing S, Chaiyarit J, Techasatian L.Diaper rashes can indicate systemic conditions other than diaper dermatitis.BMC Dermatol.2020 Sep 21;20(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12895-020-00104-z.
Tüzün Y, Wolf R, Engin B, Keçici AS, Kutlubay Z.Bacterial infections of the folds (intertriginous areas).Clin Dermatol.2015 Jul-Aug;33(4):420-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.04.003.
Ebady R. Niddam A.F. Boczula A. Simmons C. Skare J. Moriarty T.Biomechanics ofBorrelia burgdorferivasucular interactions.Cell Reports2016 Sept; 16(10) P2593-2604. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.013
Agrawal A, Raibagkar SC, Vora HJ.Friction burns: epidemiology and prevention.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2008;21(1):3-6.
Mount Sinai.Aloe.
Morales-Burgos A, Loosemore MP, Goldberg LH.Postoperative wound care after dermatologic procedures: a comparison of 2 commonly used petrolatum-based ointments.J Drugs Dermatol.2013 Feb;12(2):163-4.
Verma N, Chakrabarti R, Das RH, Gautam HK.Anti-inflammatory effects of shea butter through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the Nf-κB pathway in LPS-activated J774 macrophage cells.J Complement Integr Med.2012 Jan 12;9:Article 4. doi: 10.1515/1553-3840.1574.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Steroids (Topical).
American Cancer Society.Talcum Powder and Cancer.
American Family Physician.Intertrigo and Common Secondary Skin Infections.
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