Chafing of the thighs results from your skin rubbing against clothing or one thigh rubbing against the other while running. Chafing usually occurs during long periods of exercise and may be exacerbated by sweat. You may notice soreness, flaky skin or redness in the chafed area. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, then apply an antibiotic ointment and clean dressing to treat it.
Step 1
Reduce the duration of your runs if you find your thighs start to chafe later in the workout. Whether the chafing is from friction between the thighs or clothing irritation, allowing your skin to adjust to longer durations slowly helps it become less sensitive.
Step 2
Wear clean, dry clothes made from natural fibers. Clothes worn from a previous workout may still contain salt crystals from your sweat, increasing the likelihood of chafing. Likewise, new clothes may have dyes or other chemicals in the fibers that could make the fabric more coarse against your skin, causing you to chafe. Wearing clothing that fits tighter to your legs also can decrease the possibility of chafing between your thighs.
Step 3
Apply powder to your thighs before running. If you sweat a lot while running, drying up the sweat may help decrease the chafing. Use an absorbent powder, such as cornstarch.
Step 4
Apply a lubricant, as an alternative to powder, to your skin to allow your thighs to slide against one another or keep your shorts from rubbing against your legs when running. Petroleum jelly is the most commonly used lubricant, since it is affordable and easily accessible. Specialty running and sports stores usually sell solid lubricant that can be applied to the body in the same fashion as a solid stick of deodorant, making the application easier and less messy.
Step 5
Drink plenty of water leading up to your run. Keeping your body hydrated is one of the best ways to avoid chafing as it allows you to sweat more freely. A dehydrated body still needs to sweat but will be apt to dry more quickly, causing the salt crystals from the sweat to form on your body. The gritty texture of the salt crystals along with the rubbing of your skin against more skin or other clothing can cause you to chafe more easily.
Things You'll Need
- Loose, clean clothing
- Talcum powder
- Lubricant
- Water
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