After a long afternoon of riding your bike, you feel as if you’re at the peak of physical fitness. Nothing can stop the adrenaline high that you have, except for the uncomfortable feeling between your thighs.

Thigh chafing is the bane of many athlete’s lives. Not only is it painful, but it can also cause awful welts and blisters that you’ll be feeling for days. The good news is that there are ways to stop chafing, even when you’re exposed to hot summer weather.

Check out this guide to learn how to prevent chafing and figure out what you can do if it happens to you despite following the precautions. 

1. Be Careful with What Clothes You Wear

The main culprit of inner thigh chafing is wearing the wrong clothes. You need to put on something that keeps moisture away from your body. Breathable cotton is a safe bet. 

Pay attention to clothing seams. If they dig into your skin, don't be surprised if you end up with a chafing rash. If you really want to wear a certain outfit, you can think out of the box a little. 

For example, put on a pair of breathable, moisture-wicking shorts under your dress. Some athletic wear has chafe guards. You should consider picking some up to wear on your morning jog. 

2. Use Anti-chafing Products 

Not sure how to stop chafing if you can't find clothes with guards? The answer is to stay lubricated. There are products out there that you can rub on yourself before a run to keep the rash away. 

Deodorant 

Deodorant does more than saving everyone from smelling your BO. It kicks underarm chafing to the curb. The only problem is that many products come with a bunch of added chemicals that doesn't make them worth it. 

If you don't like the idea of absorbing aluminum into your skin, you'll have to be careful while you're shopping. There are natural products on the shelves you can buy, but they are far and in between. 

Anti-chafing Sticks and Balms 

These products are a lifesaver for busy athletes. All you have to do is slip the chafe stick into your bag and apply it as needed during the day. 

The sticks and balms are small enough where it's not hard to be discrete with them. Some products are made with gentle ingredients that you can rub on already chafed skin to stop the rash from getting worse than it already is. 

Aloe Vera 

The aloe vera plant has been used for its healing properties for centuries now. Its cooling power has the ability to soothe burns and ease the inflammation that comes with chafing. You can put it on before chafing begins to prevent your thighs from rubbing together.

So, invest in an aloe vera plant. You can break one of the leaves off and squeeze the gel out on the area. If you don't trust yourself to take care of a whole living plant, you can buy the leaves in specialty stores for one-time use or purchase a bottle of the gel.

Corn Starch 

Talcum powder can absorb moisture as you sweat during a hot day to keep chafing away. It can also prevent already chafed skin from getting irritated even further. 

The problem with talcum is that numerous health concerns are surrounding it. This is why many people are using corn starch as a natural alternative. 

Petroleum Jelly 

The products that we've named so far work on moderately chaffed skin or pre-chafed skin. It will make matters worse if you already have blisters. 

That's where petroleum jelly comes in. Your skin doesn't absorb it fast enough for it to cause a problem. It's slippery so, it can stop your skin from rubbing together, and it has the power to reduce irritation. 

3. Check the Weather Before You Go Out 

Sweat plus skin rubbing together equals chafing. To stop it from happening, you'll need to plan your days strategically around what's going on outside.

Check the weather on your phone and try to do any yard work or exercise during the coolest parts of the day. This will keep your sweating to a minimum. 

4. Stay Dry 

Again, the name of the game is to stay dry. Moisture increases your chances of chafing by a lot. Always put on deodorant or powder before going out to absorb sweat. 

If you can, bring a change of clothes with you. This way, if one pair of clothes becomes sweaty, you don't have to sit in wet clothes. 

If you go swimming in the ocean or sweat too much, try to return home as fast as you can to take a shower. Dry off completely before you put on a fresh pair of clothes. 

5. What to Do if You Do Chafe? 

Of course, you can follow through with all of these precautions and still end up with a rash somehow. If this happens to you, wash the area using unscented soap. Any fragrances will irritate it more. 

Pat the area dry with a cotton towel and apply a chafing cream or balm to it. Do your best not to touch it. What you can do is put an ice pack on it to cool it down. 

Get Relief from Thigh Chafing 

Thigh chafing is the bane of everyone's existence. It doesn't matter if you're a runner or simply move around a lot for work. You're not immune to its effects.

The good news is you can prevent it if you take the correct precautions. Try applying anti-chafing products before you leave your house, pay attention to the types of clothes you wear, and make sure you stay dry. Do this, and we promise it will keep the rash away. 

If you're looking for more ways to enjoy your upcoming summer without painful chafing, we've got you covered. Check out our blog daily to learn how to keep your skin looking and feeling fabulous.