Thigh Chafing Is Real, and It's Brutal—These Are the Products That Really Help

To me, summer is always a welcome change—I love when the weather starts to heat up and I get to start wearing breathable clothing (and less of it). Nothing feels better than throwing on a good summer dress on a balmy day. There's one major problem, though: thigh chafing

Thigh chafing can be uncomfortable, to say the least. Many people experience thigh chafing in the summer (myself included). It's super common and can be caused by any number of things—walking, working out, or even just sitting with your legs crossed. "Thigh chafing happens as a result of friction when your inner thighs rub against each other and damages the skin," says Margarita Lolis, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey. "You can have red, irritated skin that may blister and burn. It's usually worse in the hot and sticky summertime when we are sweating."

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(Image credit: @bettinalooney )

Luckily, there are products out there that are formulated to help prevent thigh chafing right off the bat. These innovative products help reduce friction, meaning you can walk in shorts and skirts without worrying about painful redness or blisters later. "You want to look for creams and balms that contain petroleum jelly or zinc oxide to create a barrier on the top of the skin," says Lolis. Mona Gohara, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine and President of the Women's Dermatologic Society, recommends looking for something that's lubricating, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic. 

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(Image credit: @jeannine.roxas)

First things first, start with a moisturizing cleanser:

The Best Anti-Chafe Sticks

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(Image credit: @itsheymorgan)

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(Image credit: @lefevrediary)

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(Image credit: @marina_torres)

Next, 13 Sweatproof Foundations If Your Face Wants to Melt Into a Puddle Right Now

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Associate Beauty Editor

Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.