Anti-Chafing Cream is Good… Anti-Chafing Underwear is Better
If you like to keep active, especially in the summer, chafing can all too easily become an unfortunate fact of life. The resultant scorching, stinging pain cannot be ignored and should not be underestimated.
Luckily, many products can help you combat this incapacitating irritation. Which is best for you? Let’s take a look!
What is Chafing and Why Does it Happen?
Chafing, medically known as intertrigo, is the result of areas of skin either rubbing together or against clothing. This typically happens in places where sweat gets trapped. Skin becomes sticky and causes friction, leading to rashes, reddening, and painful skin inflammation. Common problem areas include the groin, thighs, nipples, and tops of the arms.
While the simple act of walking is enough to bring this on, those who spend time working out or otherwise engage in extended periods of repetitive motion, sweat-inducing activities such as running and cycling are more at risk. Other things can exacerbate this problem, like clothing that is either too tight or too loose - especially if it is non-breathable and traps moisture - high temperatures or humidity, and damp conditions.
Chances are you’ve suffered from at least mild forms of chafing in the past and may be wondering what all the fuss is about. After all, we tend to forget about problems we don’t currently have – even the eye-watering pain of chafing. However, it is definitely something to be aware of. In more extreme cases, rashes and redness can give way to rawness, blisters, welts, and bleeding. Moreover, warm, moist, hairy areas are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, yeast, and fungus, which puts you at risk of skin infections.
Luckily, there are some pretty effective products on the market these days for helping you to keep chafage at bay.
Preventative Products
Basically, what you are looking to do is either reduce the amount of moisture on your skin or find something that will create a barrier between different areas or between skin and clothing to prevent rubbing. Different products do this in various ways.
Lotions and Creams
Lotions and creams are perfect for creating a velvety texture to make skin just glide rather than stick. Furthermore, these products usually offer various other skin benefits, such as deep hydration. While the latter may seem counterintuitive well-moisturized skin has a more effective natural protective barrier which reduces the risk of chafing in the first place.
Jellies and Balms
Jellies and balms tend to be aimed at those already suffering the effects of chafing. Not only do they help keep problem areas well lubricated, but they also contain various skin-soothing ingredients like aloe vera and cocoa butter. These can take a lot of the heat and sting from raw, painful patches, while zinc oxide and vitamin E helps repair and restore the damaged skin.
Powders
Powders work a little differently in that they are designed to absorb excess sweat and moisture, which causes sticky skin and subsequent rubbing. These are great for people who don’t like the greasy feeling (not to mention the messiness) of other anti-chafing products. Still, powder obviously can create messes of its own…
Glide-on Sticks
Glide-on sticks are another excellent solution. These often resemble deodorant sticks and usually function in much the same way – by reducing sweat while creating a protective barrier. Simply slick them right onto the area that needs protecting, and off you go. No muss, no fuss.
What’s the Catch?
While anti-chafing products offer a range of benefits, there are a few downsides to relying on them for your skin protection needs.
Firstly, products are a temporary solution at best. For them to be effective, you will likely need to reapply at least once. This is doubly true on hot days or when you’re engaged in particularly strenuous activities. Who’s got the time for that? This also means that you will be stuck toting them around with you wherever you go, but what if you forget?
You will also need to find private places to do (in the case of creams and balms) quite messy touch-ups. After all, let’s face it, chafing is hardly something you’re going to want to tell the world about, it is? Plus, if you are using them regularly, you will need to replace them regularly – and what happens when you forget to do that? You’ll be stuck right back down chafing alley again. All this is exactly why…
Underwear is the Answer
The lesser thought about sporting clothes, but probably among the most important. Traditionally people have tended to stick with cotton undies as this natural material is comfortable, breathable, hypoallergenic, and is perfect for keeping the boys cool as you like. However, the moisture-trapping fabric is definitely not your friend when it comes to chafing.
Synthetic fibers have long been the rage when it comes to performance clothing. They have a great capacity for stretch that allows a full range of movement during athletic endeavors. They also efficiently wick away sweat and other moisture keeping skin dry and less vulnerable to friction. This makes them the perfect anti-chafing product!
Turq’s underwear has been engineered with a range of sophisticated features that allow men to be comfortable, supported, and remain chafe-free all day long, including:
- Quick dry technology, which keeps skin and fabric dry and gliding
- Seamless designs for a smooth fit with no irritation
- Spacious front panels to keep the boys separated from your thighs
- Strategically placed ventilated mesh panels to remain cool down there
- Silver-infused hydrophobic microfibers that create a fresh, breathable, and hygienic intimate environment.
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