While most people love hot weather, I dread warm weather in New York: The combination of heat and humidity means my thigh chafing—otherwise known as chub rub—will inevitably return.
Almost everyone can relate to this experience in one way or another, since despite the colloquially used moniker that is chub rub, heat-induced skin chafing has very little to do with being chubby. My inner thighs have always rubbed together, no matter my weight or size. Plus, it’s science: The combination of sweat and skin simply results in rubbing, regardless of someone’s body type (more on that below).
The best products for thigh chafing, at a glance:
- Best Antichafe Stick: Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick, $25
- Best Drugstore Antichafe Stick: Gold Bond Friction Defense Stick, $6
- Best Barrier Cream: Carpe No-Sweat Thigh Sweat Absorbing Anti-Chafing Lotion, $20
- Best Body Powder: Duradry Body Powder, $16
- Best Shapewear: Spanx Shorty Seamless Shaper Shorts, $32
- Best Shorts: Nike Zenvy Gentle-Support High-Waist Bike Shorts, $60
I learned this the hard way, just as I hit puberty. I was 11 years old and not only the first of any of my friends to get my period and need a bra but also the only one whose thighs ended up chapped after wearing shorts and dresses, sometimes to the point of bleeding, especially on summer break (and more often than not, while at sleepaway camp). I didn’t understand what it was or what it meant, but I knew I felt embarrassed. So I didn’t tell anyone for years, shamefully applying oversized bandages and deodorant (intended for armpits) to the area and hoping the issue would eventually go away. It did not.
I was, however, able to learn to manage it, thanks to nearly two decades of trial and error, as well as guidance from actual experts. Read on for my—and dermatologists’—tried and tested tips on how to treat and prevent thigh and skin chafing, plus which moisture-wicking antichafing products and creams they recommend for the job.
What causes “chub rub” and thigh chafing?
As you might imagine, the cause of chub rub and thigh chafing is exactly that: rubbing. “Chafing refers to skin irritation that can appear red or discolored, and results from rubbing or friction,” Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC, and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, tells Glamour.
Brendan Camp, MD, double-board-certified dermatologist at NYC’s MDCS Dermatology, agrees—and adds that while it’s common for skin to chafe after rubbing on other skin, it can also happen as a result of rubbing on coarse fabric. Thus, as noted above, the unfortunate phenomenon is not necessarily exclusive to the thighs.
“Chafing occurs as a result of skin rubbing on skin, or skin rubbing on a coarse fabric,” says Dr. Camp, noting that this can cause chafing over time, especially on sensitive skin. “Because chafing is the result of repeated frictional forces, it occurs most often in areas like the underarms, under the breasts, in the groin, and on the thighs.” And both derms agree: Chafing is both common and normal, so no—nothing is wrong with you or your skin.
How to prevent inner-thigh chafing and chub rub
As for how to prevent your thighs from chafing in the first place? According to Dr. Camp, you’ll want to stick to comfortable clothing that limits the amount of friction between your skin and the fabric. “Many athletic-apparel stores offer workout attire that avoids thick seams or places them outside areas of friction,” he says.
Wear breathable bike shorts or antichafing shorts under dresses and skirts as a precaution (or as pants; we don’t judge). Some of our favorite breathable exercise shorts that also come in plus sizes include Nike Zenvy Gentle-Support High-Waist Bike Shorts and Hue Active Pep Talking Pocket Performance Bike Shorts.
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Another option? Shapewear, of course! Not because your body needs to be “shaped,” per se (unless you want it to be; in that case, great!) but because the fabric provides an additional layer of protection. Spanx and Skims are Glamour’s most beloved shapewear classics, but Thighsociety and Undersummers offer loose, nonshaping fits that still wear seamlessly under clothing.
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Dr. Camp also suggests using moisture-wicking powder or baby powder, since dry lubricants help to minimize shearing forces and get rid of unwanted moisture. Regular baby powder for babies can and does work, but there are several products intended and formulated for sweat-producing adults.
Glamour’s favorites? Duradry Body Powder, Megababe’s Body Dust Top-to-Toe Powder, Kaia Naturals’ Sweat Powder, and Lush Silky Underwear Powder
There are tons of anti-chafing products to choose from as well, such as skin-barrier creams that minimize potential rubbing, says Dr. Garshick.
“When looking for something to prevent chafing, you are looking for something to create a barrier between the skin, or the skin and tight clothing, that will prevent irritation caused by rubbing or friction,” she says. (FWIW, I’m personally a fan of Carpe’s Thigh Sweat Absorbing Anti-Chafing Lotion.)
Antichafing Sticks
Possibly the most popular of all when it comes to thigh chafing are antichafing sticks. Dr. Garshick points to Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Stick as an example, though there are countless antichafing creams and antichafe balms to try.
“This easy-to-use formula glides on easily and includes aloe and vitamin E to help soothe the skin, as well as pomegranate-seed extract to protect the skin and grapeseed oil to help hydrate,” Dr. Garshick says of Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Stick. Meanwhile, Dr. Camp suggests Body Glide’s water- and sweat-proof antichafe stick and moisturizing balm for the job.
Glamour editors also have thoughts on which are the best. “I’ve tried them all, and this is the only one I fully endorse,” commerce director Brie Schwartz says of KT Tape Chafe-Safe Anti Chafing Stick.
Copy director Talley Sue Hohlfeld swears by Gold Bond’s Friction Defense Stick. “It’s available at lots of places. That’s part of what I like about it. I can usually find it at Walgreens,” she says. “It’s very effective and doesn’t need to be replenished. I don’t feel messy or sticky where I’ve applied it.”
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Finally, if you find the deodorant-stick format strange, antichafing gel creams are equally effective. According to Hohlfeld, who uses Monistat’s Chafing Relief Powder Gel, “it glides on more smoothly, and rubs into the skin without leaving stickiness behind.”
The end result? “Your thighs will slide past one another smoothly,” she says. “It might need refreshing more than some others, but it’s certainly luxurious-feeling going on.”
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How to treat chafed thighs
If your thighs have already chafed, don’t worry: Peter Young, MD, board-certified dermatologist and medical director at online dermatology provider Facet, has a plan. He recommends gently cleaning the blisters or the chafed area with cool or lukewarm water (not hot!) as soon as possible, which will greatly help your skin heal.
“Pat it dry with a soft towel, and apply a lubricating agent like petroleum jelly [such as Vaseline] or Aquaphor,” Dr. Young says. You can also try aloe vera gel for a cooling effect.
Dr. Garshick echoes this, noting that most moisturizing lotions, creams, and ointments will help the skin heal and recover. “This is important because with persistent rubbing, even mild signs or symptoms of chafing can worsen, so it is always important to give the skin an opportunity to heal,” she says.
Dr. Garshick adds, “For a great nourishing and moisturizing option, I love the Dove Body Love Sensitive Care Body Lotion, which contains a restoring ceramide serum to strengthen and support the skin’s moisture barrier while also soothing the skin.”
You’ll also want to invest in moisturizing and protective skin care products to help protect the skin, Dr. Young explains. “Harsh soaps and hot water are particularly damaging to this outer layer of skin, and therefore it is important to use mild cleansers and lukewarm water when bathing,” he says, suggesting simple and hydrating cleansers for people who are prone to dry skin and chafing.
Once you find preventative and reparative techniques that work, you (and your thighs) are ready for summer. Happy sweating!
Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.
