Chafing is an unpleasant problem that arises when skin rubs together repeatedly. The friction that this causes can be uncomfortable and at worst can result in rashes, blistering or bleeding. It is a very common problem that many people face, no matter their profession or hobbies, and we have already explored what it’s like to chafe while golfing. In this blog, we will be running down what it’s like to chafe as a chef working in a busy kitchen.

What is chafing?

Before we begin, do you have a full understanding of what chafing is? Chafing is caused by moisture and friction rubbing against your skin and can simply appear as redness or rash in the affected area, and you may not even notice it if it is mild. If it is severe, you may experience mild to moderate pain or itchiness, and prolonged occurrence can lead to blistering or bleeding.

It can happen for many reasons, such as your thighs repeatedly rubbing while you are walking, your clothes causing friction in your armpits, or sweat building up in any area of the body. Because it is caused by repetitive movement, it is most common in active people such as athletes and those who work in high-paced environments.

What’s it like to chafe as a chef?

Working as a chef is one of the most fast-paced environments there is. From the constant moving around to monitor many components of a dish at once to the high temperature of the kitchen caused by the ovens, being a chef is highly demanding and is an ideal situation for chafe to occur.

When sweat builds, the moisture and the salt present cause your skin to get weaker and sensitive to movement, and this is how chafe happens. Chefs often have to move quickly from one part of the kitchen to the other, so it’s no wonder that sweat can build up and friction becomes a problem. This is especially true because they often wear baggy uniforms so that their movement around the kitchen is not impeded. Baggy clothes are known to worsen chafe because they are more likely to rub against the skin.

This can lead to extra stress and a distraction from cooking which could result in poorer dishes. Chefs may need to take regular breaks to give their skin a rest from chafing or apply chafing remedies to try and crack down on the pain. Severe chafe can affect people’s quality of life if they are constantly in discomfort, and it’s no different for a busy professional such as a chef.

What is the solution?

Chefs don’t have to give up the job they feel passionate about or change their uniforms to escape chafe. An innovative solution to chafing on the inner thigh is No More Chafe’s fantastic thigh guards which protect the skin from friction and can be worn under any clothes discreetly. For more information about how we can help any professional avoid chafe, get in contact today!