
Chafed skin is an uncomfortable condition to have. You will have a patch of your skin itchy and irritated, which can then proceed to become infected if you take no action. Of all the causes of chafing skin, there is the recurrent theme of friction being on the affected area that leads to the chafing. Let us look at an explanation of some of those causes. Click to learn more.
Wet skin is the first cause. A little bit of wetness, from sweating, for example, can cause the skin to chafe. A solution for such a condition is to put on dry clothes. Staying in wet clothes not only causes chafing of the skin, but it is unhygienic. You need to also take a shower when you change.
If your skin is unusually dry right before you exercise, it is likely to chafe. As you proceed with the exercising; your skin tends to rub together. If there is no lubricant on the skin, expect the friction to lead to chafing.
Cotton material in your clothes also leads to skin chafing. Cotton garments do not cause you such problems until you engage in excessive movement while wearing them. Any intense physical activity while wearing cotton will have you collecting sweat and not losing it. Cotton does not dissipate moisture easily, thus keeping your skin unnecessarily wet.
You can also chafe the skin by wearing clothes that do not fit. You need to have running or workout clothes that fit well. Tight-fitting clothes are not only uncomfortable, but they also tend to cut into your skin, and cause chafing. There will also be no airflow between the material and your skin. Loose-fitting clothes are no better since there is excess material rubbing against your skin.
You may also suffer friction from the tags and seams in the clothes. Your workout clothes with such attachments cause the most friction due to all that movement. Go for those with no tags, or with tags on the exterior sections of the garments. Check also that the seams are tucked away neatly.
Another cause is dehydration. As long as you are dehydrated, you will produce excessively salty sweat. Sweat that is too salty irritated the skin and leads to friction much faster. Regularly hydrate, to reduce the harm from your sweat.
Anytime you feel your skin is chafing, you need to settle down and dry of that patch.
Take a bath then change into dry clothes. Applying petroleum jelly on that area helps cool off the irritation. The best approach for advanced cases is to use an anti-chafing salve, Squirrel's Nut Butter for instance. In the meantime, ensure you keep your skin dry, take water to keep it hydrated, and avoid cotton or any other material that could irritate your skin.
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