Give your skin some time to heal from chafing before being active again. Continued friction will only make it worse and could lead to infection. If your skin chafing does not improve after trying these self-care measures, make an appointment to see your doctor. You may need an antibiotic ointment if the area becomes infected.
5 best products to prevent and treat chafing this summer
Dermatologists break down what causes chafing and share their recommendations for the best creams and powders to relieve symptoms.
Anti-chafe products can help ease any friction and irritation, keeping your skin smooth and bump-free. Westend61 / Getty Images
July 16, 2021, 4:00 PM UTC / Updated April 19, 2023, 9:21 PM UTC
During the warmer months, few things are more persistently irksome than chafing. Whether you’re a runner who likes to take advantage of the nice weather or someone who wants their inner thighs to live in peace, anti-chafe products can help prevent any uncomfortable friction that causes sore skin.
To help you stay friction-free in high temperatures, we spoke to dermatologists about the best anti-chafe products on the market, plus got their tips and tricks on how to avoid chafing and what to do when it occurs.
Our top picks
- Best overall/editor’s pick: Megababe Thigh Rescue
- Best pick according to dermatologists: Body Glide for Her
- Best budget option: Gold Bond Friction Defense Stick
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How we picked the best anti-chafing products:
When shopping for quality anti-chafe products, dermatologists emphasized finding the right, friction-reducing ingredients more than anything. We also valued price and our own personal experience with these products, where applicable.
- Ingredients: Shoppers should look for chafing sticks with a combination of humectants, emollients and occlusives (the same types of ingredients found in quality face moisturizers), according to Dr. Hadley King, a NYC-based dermatologist. Ideally, these products should glide smoothly while creating a strong barrier between any hotspots that rub (like inner thighs or the back of your heels), and any exterior irritation like the heel of your shoe or a wet swimsuit strap on your skin. Notable emollients include glycerin and coconut oil, which appear in nearly every anti-chafe product we recommend. We explore these ingredients and others in more depth, below.
- Price: Based on our own experience shopping for and using these products, we’ve found great options in the $7 to $15 range for roughly 2 ounces (or one deodorant-like stick) of product.
- Personal experience: As someone who struggles with thigh chafing during the warmer months, I’ve tried a handful of these products and included my recommendations.
The best anti-chafing products in 2023
Most anti-chafing products are salves packed in glide-on sticks, jellies, powders or creams. Below, we’ve compiled a list of expert-recommended options from dermatologists or options I’ve personally tried that helped keep my skin friction-free and happy.
Megababe Thigh Rescue
Several of the dermatologists we spoke to recommended Megababe as an anti-chafe solution. “[It’s] an affordable, easy-to-use stick formulated to prevent friction by providing both hydration with grapeseed oil and improved glide to reduce the friction that leads to chafing with ingredients like vitamin E and aloe,” says Dr. Annie Chiu, dermatologist and founder of The Derm Institute.
I’ve used Megababe for years and cannot imagine my life without it. It’s packaged in a deodorant-like applicator and is a breeze to use: I typically swipe the balm across each of my inner thighs two to three times and typically reapply throughout the day as needed. The formula, which has a subtle, clean scent, leaves behind a residue that makes my inner thighs happily glide across each other as I walk. Megbabe is formulated with caprylic/capric triglyceride (a compound derived from glycerin) and coconut oil, both of which are emollient ingredients that moisturize the skin.
Chafing
If you are an exercise enthusiast, or if you are overweight, you have probably experienced skin chafing, the annoying and often painful result of skin rubbing against skin or clothing. Chafing can occur anywhere on your body, but the thighs, groin, underarms, and nipples are particularly vulnerable.
There are a number of ways to prevent skin chafing, so don’t let it slow you down.
Ways to Prevent Skin Chafing
In order to prevent skin chafing, you must decrease the amount of friction to your skin. Here are some ways to do this:
Stay dry. Wet skin can make chafing worse. Before you head out the door, apply talcum and alum powders to areas that get the most sweaty. Powders can help wick moisture away from the skin. Don’t stay in wet or sweaty clothes.
Lubricate. Apply petroleum jelly, or a similar product, to hot spots. Lubricants can help reduce friction to the skin. Petroleum jelly is inexpensive and widely available; several types of lubricants are available over the counter. You may have to try a few before you find the one that works best for you. To reduce nipple chafing, petroleum jelly, patches, or tape can be placed on your nipples to reduce friction.
Dress right. When exercising, wear proper-fitting, moisture-wicking clothes, such as those made with synthetic fibers. Do not exercise in cotton. Compression shorts, such as those worn by cyclists, may help reduce thigh chafing. Also, less is more when it comes to dressing for exercise. If it is warm outside, consider running without a shirt if you are a man and in only a jogging bra if you are a woman. Lastly, choose exercise clothes and bras that have smooth seams to avoid rubbing.
How to Treat Chafing
Skin chafing should be treated, so don’t ignore it. Gently clean the chafed area with water and dry it thoroughly. After cleaning the area, apply a substance like petroleum jelly. If the area is very painful, swollen, bleeding, or crusted, your health care provider may recommend a medicated ointment.
Give your skin some time to heal from chafing before being active again. Continued friction will only make it worse and could lead to infection. If your skin chafing does not improve after trying these self-care measures, make an appointment to see your doctor. You may need an antibiotic ointment if the area becomes infected.
Show Sources
Mailler-Savage, E. and Adams, B. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2014.
American College of Sports Medicine: “‘Hot’ Clothes for Safe Exercise.”
Brian B. Adams, MD, MPH, associate professor of dermatology and director of Sports Dermatology Clinic, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; chief of dermatology, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
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