Summer is a wonderful season where the weather is warm and we have backyard pool parties and cottage road trips. It also means we can feel swollen and sweaty. It is also the season of inner thigh chub rub. Most of us aren’t blessed with thin legs that don’t rub together. Summer sweat, bare legs and friction can lead to painful chafe. If you are looking for a way to wear more dresses’ and skirts this summer here is how to prevent inner thigh chafe.
I have never been a big fan of shorts. I wear them more out of necessity than anything. Since I have gotten older and I need to dress for an office in hot summer weather I have embraced dresses and skirts more and more. I feel more polished wearing dresses and they are just as breezy. But walking in dresses in hot weather can be painful. Whether you call it chub rub or thigh chafe it can be a major deterrent to walking around with bare legs.
How to Prevent Inner Thigh Chafe
Shapewear – shapewear shorts are the most obvious place to start when looking to prevent thigh chafe. Chances are you already have a pair in your closet. They work but the drawback is usually we don’t go around wearing compression or shapewear garments all day. You might feel a bit squashed after wearing them for hours on end. I found some inexpensive less intense shapewear that I was using for a while but have defaulted to the other options these days because they are more comfortable long term.
Cotton Anti Chafe shorts – These are an affordable non shapewear option to wear under dresses. These shorts are comfortable and breathable like cotton underwear but not as lightweight and unnoticeable compared to the Thigh Society options (see below). They are way less expensive though. You can get a pack of three for about $25.
Sheertex – These fall somewhere between shapewear and the Thigh Society anti chafe shorts. These anti chafe shorts only come in black which is a drawback. So many summer dresses are light colours. They basically feel like hosiery and are a bit thicker than the Thigh Society options. But they are made with moisture and odor wicking fabric. They come in two lengths and go up to size 3x. The hem is supposed to keep the shorts in place so they don’t ride up.
Thigh society – I got two different styles from Thigh Society (The Staple and the Cooling). I don’t really notice a big difference between the two styles. Both are ultra lightweight. I barely notice them while I am wearing them. Each style comes in multiple lengths and multiple neutral colours. Sizes go up to 4xl. Thigh Society has the most choice from all the options I tried.
Megababe Thigh Rescue – Thigh rescue is not an anti chafe short but an anti chafe balm. The package looks like a deodorant stick that you rub on your inner thigh instead of your pits. This product allows your thighs to glide instead of stick and rub. This is a great option if you don’t want to add more layers on a hot day under your dress. Or if you are wearing something that you can’t wear anti chafe shorts underneath. Perhaps a bathing suit or other shorts. In fact this product is recommended for anywhere you might have chafe so on your feet or heels or thighs. I got the regular version and there is a light scent but nothing overpowering. I barely notice it, but there is a scent free version too. The only drawback is you will have to reapply throughout the day so if you are out walking you will need to take this with you.
What to do if you are suffering from thigh chafe?
Lets say you didn’t read this post soon enough. Or you went for a walk in shorts but they were not adequate at keeping your thighs from touching and rubbing in the heat. What do you do now that you have thigh chafe?
- Wash with gentle soap and soak in the tub.
- Use Sudocrem to help heal and sooth the skin. I have had Sudocrem on hand since my kids were babies. It was the best at soothing diaper rash and I keep it on hand for any grown up rashes and skin irritations we have.
- Wear cotton pants or anti chafe shorts until the area heals. This will keep the skin from rubbing and getting more irritated while the area heals.
My favourite anti chafe products are the Thigh Society shorts for their ultra light weightless feel. The three pack of cotton anti chafe shorts are the best value. These anti chafe shorts pull double duty even without any major compression they smooth everything replacing the need for a slip. And if you get caught in the wind they provide some modest coverage.
I really like the Megababe thigh rescue for when I don’t want to wear any anti chafe shorts. It does require reapplication but it makes everything glide nicely.
How do you fight chub rub? Is it similar to these tips on how to prevent inner thigh chafe? Share your favourite anti thigh chafe products in the comments.