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Chafing in the groin: Causes and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on
Chafing in the groin

Chafing is a lesion that occurs when the skin rubs against the skin or with clothing. They are seen more frequently in people who play sports, in those who are overweight and sweat excessively.

They are usually very annoying and painful and can appear on other body parts, such as the thighs, armpits, or nipples.

This FastlyHeal article explains why they come out and how to heal chafing in the groin.

Why do I get chafed in the groin?

Groin chafing is caused by skin irritation caused by repetitive friction from skin-to-skin contact in that area. Some of the frequent reasons that originate them are:

  • Sensitive skin: people who suffer from skin sensitivity have a greater predisposition to suffer from chafing on the skin, especially in the groin.
  • Overweight: Excess body weight can trigger chafing due to the amount of skin that touches each other at the thigh and groin level.
  • Practice endurance sports: activities such as cycling or running create more friction between the skin of the groin. Chafing also appears when using machines, as this requires more force. People starting new exercise routines to perform repetitive movements may experience skin irritation, leading to chafing.
  • Wear tight clothing or clothing that does not fit the body: this can cause chafing due to the constant friction of the skin with the fabric. It also prevents moisture from evaporating. In the case of women, the use of tight underwear or skirts in both hot and humid climates can promote the appearance of chafing on the skin.

How to cure groin chafing

Fortunately, chafing in the groin or anywhere on the body is treatable and preventable. Here’s how to heal groin rubbing quickly and safely:

  • If chafing is the product of practicing some exercise, you should break from this activity. Only then will your body recover from the injury.
  • Keep the chafed area clean and dry, thereby avoiding complications.
  • Moisturize the affected area by applying creams to relieve pain and irritation in the groin or injured area.
  • If you have redness, irritation, and pain in the groin region after taking a bath after finishing your physical activity, apply a healing cream to reduce the discomfort more quickly.

In cases where the previous recommendations do not take effect and, on the contrary, the pain, burning, and even inflammation worsens, you should go to the doctor to rule out the presence of a fungal infectious process due to the humidity of the compromised area. In this case, the specialist will indicate the following:

  • Corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone.
  • Antifungal or antifungal cream for local application to avoid infectious processes.

Remedies for groin chafing

Some natural remedies can be an excellent ally to relieve chafing in the groin:

  • Aloe vera is indicated to relieve irritation and even inflammation caused by abrasions. If you have the aloe vera plant at home, you can get the gel directly from the leaf. Otherwise, you can buy it at the pharmacy and apply it daily until you get improvement.
  • Water and Oatmeal Blend: Oats help soothe irritations and improve skin hydration. To relieve groin chafing, you should mix two cups of ground oatmeal in a bathtub full of warm water and soak for about 20 minutes. You can repeat it about twice a day.
  • Baking soda: this remedy has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. You should mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a bit of water until you get a paste and apply it directly to the affected area. With this, it improves the irritation in the skin of the groin.
  • Calendula: thanks to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, it helps repair and calms the skin when irritated. You can use it in the form of a cream or apply a little calendula flower infusion with gauze.

How to avoid chafing in the groin

If at other times you want to avoid chafing in the groin, try these tips:

  • Maintain proper hygiene in the area to avoid the proliferation of microorganisms on the skin of the groin that irritates it or increases the risk of infection.
  • Avoid shaving the groin area with irritating methods such as electric razors or epilators.
  • Wear cotton underwear since synthetic fabrics like polyester do not allow sweat. Also, be sure to wear loose-fitting clothing to avoid excess moisture, rubbing against your skin, and lack of ventilation.
  • Please make use of leggings or tights, as they fit the skin. These protect runners who suffer from groin chafing.
  • Change your clothes after each sport to avoid moisture in the groin area.
  • Use antiperspirant wipes or sprays to keep the groin area dry.
  • Apply moisturizer if you have irritation in the groin area.
  • Applying petroleum jelly to the area helps prevent chafing by lubricating and hydrating the skin.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any kind of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Chafing in the groin: why they come out and how to cure them, we recommend that you enter our category of skin, hair, and nails.

Bibliography

  • Pérez Reyes, P. (2018). Rubbing: Exhibition project of illustration on fat and body dissent (Doctoral dissertation, Universitat Politècnica de València).

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