Chafing is a common problem associated with both men and women. It mainly occurs when your skin rubs with another part of the skin, against a cloth or gear. The degree to which you sweat and the tendency of salt built-up on your skin may be contributing factors. If your legs brush against each other when you walk or run, such a condition may emerge. Your physical structure and body weight also play significant roles. Butt chafing is undoubtedly one of the most discomforting conditions that a person may develop. You may even feel awkward explaining its symptoms to another person or even to your doctor. For that precise reason, we give you a comprehensive snapshot of underlying symptoms, risk factors and remedies for overcoming this condition.

How to Deal With Butt Chafing and Chub Rub

Here are 8 great methods you can use to deal with butt chafing and chub rub:

1. Wear Bandelettes

This is a remarkable product for women who experience the inflammatory symptoms of inner-thigh chafing. Bandelettes are actually gater-like lace bands which are about 6 inches thick. They fit on your upper thigh and are easily wearable under any dress, skirt or shorts. By wearing them, thighs do not rub against each other and chafing is completely avoided. It is also available in elastic lace, which is more advisable to use especially when the weather is warm.

2. Try Spandex

Spandex is wearable under any type of clothes. With its ability to provide comfort in any weather, spandex is the ultimate solution to avoid butt chaffing. Along with that, it is completely durable and easily washable. One drawback of spandex clothing is that it blocks moisture. For this reason, it may not be advisable for people who are going for sweat-inducing activities such as hiking or running.

3. Lubricate the Chafing Area

As an instant chub rub treatment, lubricate your chafed area with petroleum jelly or an anti-fungal ointment. Applying cornstarch powder is another good solution. These are good techniques for treating and even preventing chafing. This is recommended to people having weight issues. Chafing in such people commonly occurs in their skin folds and may even cause yeast infection.

In addition to that, take regular showers. In this way, you can keep the skin folds and other chafed areas clean, in order to minimize the risk of infections. But be sure to get dressed after the chafing area fully dries up. In warm weather, keeping the chafed area dry becomes more challenging. Yet, you must do so to provide ventilation to the underlying skin.

4. Lose Weight

Butt chafing is the most common problem in people who are overweight or obese. Furthermore, it is the most discomforting feeling you can experience. To avoid buff chafing, start by cutting down some weight. Since your skin has an extremely viable ability to stretch, an overweight person develops skin folds that are the perfect places for infections to develop. Once you start losing weight, these skin folds disappear with time and your skin tightens. Hence, people who have maintained their weight are less likely to experience chub rub problems. With that, maintaining weight also reduces chances of other ailments and diseases.

5. Allow Free Movement of Air

For a chafed-free skin, you must avoid wearing undergarments that are either too lose or too tight. Wearing too tight clothing can block moisture and cause your skin to rub with the clothing. This gives rise to inflammation, irritability of skin and chafed areas. Hence, you must wear such clothing that allows free movement of air. The skin also needs an effective ventilation system to stay hydrated. Wearing skirts instead of pants or shorts is also a good idea since the latter may be the cause of skin irritability.

6. Avoid Tucking in Your Shirt

If you are going for a trip and wearing a backpack, it is best that you do not tuck your shirt in your pants. What happens is that when you sweat and your shirt is soaked, the sweat may drip down to your pants and undergarments. This leads to accumulation of salt in the areas prone to chafing, which further leads to inflammation and associated infections. So do not tuck your shirt in during sweat-inducing activities. 

7. Use Medication

In certain severe cases, chafing may prevail to such a degree that it can spread over a large area and cause highly irritating inflammation. If this is what you are experiencing, it is time that you immediately consult professional help. Your doctor may prescribe you a hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation and overcome chafing. However, if the problem has spread to an extended area of your skin, this cream is not recommendable and the doctor may prescribe other medication. Taking a medical opinion is the best way to deal with such a condition since the underlying symptoms may differ from patient to patient. In case you develop a yeast infection, visit your nearest doctor instantly. Never opt for self-prescribed medication on chafed areas as that may worsen the problem.

8. Avoid Infection

In order to reduce chances of developing associated skin infections, apply anti-fungal creams and other prescribed ointments. These solutions are applied on affected skin, especially skin folds where there is a high risk of infection due to moisture blockage.