Chafing is a common condition that can affect anyone. Read on to learn more about the symptoms of chafing as you walk in the city and the difference between a heat rash and chafing in the summer.

What exactly is chafing?

Chafing is a skin condition that is often brought on by a combination of factors such as friction, dampness, clothing or skin-on-skin contact with another person. The rubbing together of the skin can result in the development of a red rash, which, if left untreated, can progress to swelling, blistering and crusting of the skin. One of the most common causes of chafed skin is the salt in your perspiration, which remains on the skin after the liquid portion has gone; the salt enhances the friction and causes the skin to become inflamed.

What's it like to chafe when walking in the city?

If you're on holiday or exploring a new city, you've probably spent a long time walking around looking at the sites. If you're prone to chafing already and the weather is hot or wet, you're likely feeling very uncomfortable. The chafing experienced after a lot of walking is the result of skin-to-skin contact of different body parts, but it can also be caused by what you're wearing.

When we sweat a lot, the salt in our sweat can sometimes worsen chafing. It behaves in the same way as sandpaper, scraping and irritating the surface of the skin. Chafing is a painful and uncomfortable feeling for walkers, and anybody who has experienced it will agree.

What exactly are the signs and symptoms of chafing?

It will be obvious when you are experiencing chafing, but in addition to redness and a stinging feeling, you'll likely develop a flat rash. It's rare, but if your rash develops into boils or blisters, as the wound heals, it may become irritating and itchy.

Is it heat rash or chafing?

While a red rash on the skin might be chafing, it can also be a sign of heat rash. Heat rashes and chafing are both characterised by a red, inflammatory rash, and both are more frequent in hot, humid environments. When the sweat glands in the skin get clogged, heat rash ensues. As a result, perspiration is unable to reach the surface of the skin and evaporate properly. Extreme sweating is the most common cause of heat rash. Perspiration is trapped beneath your skin and in your clothes as a consequence of blocked sweat ducts.

Heat rash is often characterised by bumps or blisters that can occur anywhere on the body, including the face and feet. While chafing is most often seen in locations where the skin rubs together, such as the groin area or the inner thighs. Unfortunately, it's possible to have both at the same time.

Browse the No More Chafe website today for more products and advice to help you prevent chafed skin during your walks in the city