Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: How to treat a rash
• Part 2 of 2: How to relieve itching
• Tips

If you rubbed your skin a little, then there is nothing to worry about, but if your clothes rub your skin for a long time, then this is already a serious problem. Very often, a rash between the legs is caused by chafing. The skin becomes irritated, and if sweat accumulates there in addition to this, then the risk of infection is high. Fortunately, a rash can most often be treated at home.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: How to treat a rash

1. 1 Choose clothing made from breathable materials. Wear cotton and natural fabrics all day long. Underwear must be 100% cotton. If you play sports, it is better to wear clothes made of synthetic material (nylon or polyester), as it wicks moisture well and dries quickly. Clothes should always be comfortable.
   • Avoid wearing clothing made from rough, prickly, or moisture-retaining materials (such as wool or leather).
2. 2 Wear loose fitting clothing. Clothing in the leg area should be loose enough to keep the skin dry and breathable. Clothing should not be tight or squeeze skin. Clothes that are too tight can chafe and irritate the skin. Most often, a rash between the legs is caused by chafing.
   • Skin chafing most often occurs on the inner thighs, groin, underarms, belly, and nipples.
   • If the area where you rubbed the skin is left untreated, irritation and infection may occur.
3. 3 Keep your skin dry. The skin should remain dry at all times and in all situations, especially after showering or taking a bath. Take a clean cotton towel and gently blot the area where you develop the rash. If you rub this place, you risk damaging your skin. You can also use a hair dryer at the lowest temperature and use a hair dryer to dry the area where the rash appears. Do not turn on the hair dryer at the highest temperature, as this will aggravate the situation.
   • It is very important that you do your best to prevent the area of ​​irritated skin from sweating. Because sweat contains many different substances, sweat is very irritating to the skin, exacerbating the rash.
4. 4 When to see a doctor. Most types of rashes associated with chafing can be treated at home without medical intervention. However, if the rash does not get better and does not go away within 4-5 days, or it gets worse, make an appointment with your doctor. This is especially important if you suspect an infection may have entered your body (if you have a fever, severe pain, swelling, or pus on the affected skin area).
   • Get rid of anything that may chafe the affected area, keep it clean, and apply a moisturizer - this should reduce breakouts within a day or two. If your condition has not improved, see your doctor.
5. 5 Follow your doctor's instructions. During the appointment, the doctor should examine the affected area. If he suspects a bacterial infection, he will probably ask for a test. The test will tell if the rash is due to a bacterial or fungal infection, and the doctor will prescribe treatment based on that. Usually doctors prescribe one or more drugs of the following groups:
   • antifungal cream (for fungal infection);
   • oral antifungal medications (if the antifungal cream does not work);
   • oral antibiotics (for bacterial infection);
   • antibiotic creams (for bacterial infection).

Part 2 of 2: How to relieve itching

1. 1 Keep the area affected by the rash clean. Because this area can be more sensitive and prone to sweat, it is very important to wash it with a mild, unscented soap. Wash and rinse the affected area in warm or cool water, be sure to thoroughly rinse off any soap residues. Residual soap will irritate your skin even more.
   • You can use soaps based on vegetable oils (olive, palm, soybean, coconut, or shea butter), or you can use soaps based on vegetable glycerin.
   • If you are sweating a lot, be sure to take a bath or shower to prevent moisture from trapping in the area affected by the rash.
2. 2 Apply some powder to your skin. When the skin is dry and clean, you can apply a powder to the affected area to keep it dry. Give preference to odorless powders, baby powder is best, but be sure to check if it contains talcum powder (it is permissible to use talcum powder only in very small quantities). If you cannot find a powder without talcum powder, then apply it in very small quantities. Some studies have shown that talcum powder increases the risk of ovarian cancer in women.
   • Do not apply cornstarch, as it creates a good environment for fungi and bacteria to grow, which can lead to skin infections.
3. 3 Apply oil. Keep your feet moist at all times to reduce the risk of chafing. Use natural moisturizers such as almond oil, castor oil, lanolin, or calendula oil. Make sure your skin is clean and dry before applying the oil. Also, to protect the skin, you can put a small piece of bandage or gauze.
   • Apply the oil at least twice a day, and preferably more often, especially if you notice that the rash is in close contact with clothing or skin.
4. 4 Add essential oil to the base oil. Moisturizing your skin is very important, but in addition to that, you can add essential oils that have healing properties. Honey can be added if possible, as it also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. If you plan to use one of the following essential oils, add 1-2 drops of essential oil to 4 tablespoons of the base oil:
   • Calendula oil: The oil of these flowers heals skin wounds and has anti-inflammatory properties.
   • St. John's wort oil: This oil is used to treat depression and anxiety, as well as to treat skin irritation. St. John's wort is not recommended for children, pregnant and lactating women.
   • Arnica Oil: More research is needed to study the healing properties of oil made from arnica flowers. Children, pregnant and nursing women are advised not to use arnica oil.
   • Yarrow oil: This essential oil from yarrow has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes wound healing.
   • Neem oil: has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. It has been used successfully to treat burns in children.
5. 5 Check your reaction to a mixture of oils. Since the skin is already sensitive, you should check to see if the mixture of oils will cause an allergic reaction. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and apply a small amount of oil to the inside of your elbow. Apply a bandage to the area and wait 10-15 minutes. If you don't notice any reaction (rash, itching, or burning), you can safely apply the mixture to the affected area throughout the day. Try to apply a moisturizing oil at least 3-4 times a day to help heal the rash.
   • The listed essential oils should not be used by children under 5 years of age.
6. 6 Take an oatmeal bath. Place 1-2 cups of rolled oats in a long nylon stocking. Tie a knot so the oats don't spill out and tie to the tub tap. Turn on the warm water so that it runs right through the oatmeal filling the tub. Soak in this oatmeal bath for 15–20 minutes, and then pat dry your skin with a towel. Take this bath once a day.
   • These baths are especially helpful if the rash the affected site is great.

Tips

• The risk of chafing is high in athletes and overweight people. If you are overweight or obese, your doctor will most likely recommend that you lose weight to avoid rashes.If you exercise, then you need to do everything possible to keep your skin dry both during and after exercise.