Chafing - a condition that can be both painful and annoying - occurs when skin rubs against itself or another abrasive surface, like your clothes. While it's most commonly associated with long-distance running or other activities that make you sweat, it can be an everyday occurrence for those who do a lot of walking and swimming, especially in warm temperatures.

Chafing usually leads to inflammation and redness, which are caused by tiny tears in the top layer of the skin. To mitigate or prevent this, many turn to home remedies such as rubbing deodorant across the affected area. But does this work as an anti chafing solution?

Does deodorant stop chafing?

Deodorant contains an antiperspirant that can stop you from sweating, one of the leading causes of chafing. It also contains emollients, which help lock in moisture to the surface of your skin.

If you're planning on doing a lot of physical exercise or an activity that will produce sweat, we recommend applying deodorant beforehand so that it can work its magic. This will help reduce the amount of sweat that's produced in the first place, which will ultimately reduce chafing.

However, there's not much that it can do to prevent any rubbing you experience. This means that it's worth looking into other, more effective precautions that one can take to reduce the effects of chafing.

How to stop chafing

Here are some examples of effective measures that can help reduce the effects of chafing:

Wear clothing that's breathable and moisture-wicking

If you're going for a run or doing other outdoor activities in hot weather, wear lightweight fabrics like nylon or polyester. These will allow sweat to evaporate from your skin so that it doesn't pool up and rub against your clothes, preventing chafing.

Apply Vaseline to areas where you tend to feel chafing most

Applying Vaseline to the affected area can help as a chafing remedy when it forms a protective barrier between your skin and clothing. Vaseline will not only keep the skin from getting irritated but also act as an antiperspirant, which will help you stay drier for longer so that your clothes don't rub against your skin as much.

Apply antiseptic cream to the affected area(s)

Antiseptic cream is a great form of chafing treatment, but it won't prevent it from occurring in the first place. Not only will it prevent bacteria from entering the open wound site, but it also promotes healing, helping to close the wound quicker, which mitigates the effects of chafing.

Exfoliate regularly

The friction that leads to chafing is caused by sweat coming into contact with skin cells. This means that when you exfoliate, you remove the dead skin cells and can reduce the friction that causes chafing. Not to mention that it can boost the appearance and feel of the skin.

For more information on how to stop chafing, feel free to contact a member of our team at No More Chafe today.