I'm currently dealing with some scaly skin on my upper thighs while recovering from jock itch. When I wear tight boxer briefs, the area burns quite a bit, and loose boxers end up chafing. What can I do to heal the skin and find comfortable clothing?
5 Answers
Cleaning the area before applying any cream is super important. Make sure the skin is dry and apply the cream twice a day. Remember to dab the area dry instead of rubbing it with a towel to prevent irritation. A loose boxers strategy is good too, giving your skin a chance to breathe without rubbing against anything.
Make sure you're showering right after workouts to avoid sweating in that area for too long. Use a non-irritating body wash, and blow dry your skin after showering to keep moisture at bay. Loose clothing afterwards will help a lot too!
What if you have a job where you sweat all day?
After showers, I recommend using baby powder or Gold Bond to keep things dry. It really makes a difference in preventing chafing!
Does Gold Bond work just as well as baby powder?
For dryness due to eczema, I highly recommend using creams like Cetaphil Restoraderm. They really help combat dry patches and reduce swelling.
You should definitely avoid scratching the area since that can break the skin and make healing harder. Oatmeal-based creams, like those designed for eczema, are gentle and can soothe the redness and itch. Another option is using vitamin E oil, which you can buy in capsules—just cut them open and apply the oil directly to the area. It's great for moisturizing and healing wounds.
If you get some pure oats, you can actually cook them down with extra water until they're soupy, then blend them until smooth and mix with a moisturizing cream for a custom lotion.
I used to have really itchy legs too; keeping my nails trimmed has helped me a ton to avoid breaking the skin when I do scratch.
How do you avoid chafing during gym workouts?