Weight fluctuation is one of the most common causes of thigh chafing or “chub rub”. Both weight gain and weight loss can increase your chances of skin chafing. Thankfully, you no longer have to deal with thigh chafing when your weight is fluctuating. Chafing – or “chub rub” is easily preventable at any weight! Read on to learn why “chub rub” happens and how to avoid it when your weight is changing.

Why Have My Thighs Started Chafing?

If you’re suddenly experiencing painful rashes between your legs or other areas, then weight gain or loss may be the cause. Thigh chafing, dubbed “chub rub,” is often associated with being overweight. However, weight loss or weight fluctuations of any type can also lead to chafing. Chafing is not caused by excess weight, it is caused by skin-on-skin friction, which can happen to anyone of any size. However, body changes such as extra weight gain, excess skin from weight loss or pregnancy, and even muscle gains can all increase the chances of thighs touching and rubbing when you walk.

Can Skinny People Get Chub Rub?

Yes! Don’t let the unfortunate nickname “chub rub” fool you. There has long been a stigma around chafing that associates it with being overweight. However, thigh chafe can happen to both men and women of all shapes and sizes. Even very athletic people can have thighs that touch. Muscle tone in the legs will often cause thighs to touch when you walk, and this can result in chafed thighs. Heat, sweat, and exercise can also increase your likelihood of getting chafed thighs. Most people will experience thigh chafing at some point in their lives, even if they usually have a thigh gap.

Will Leg Chafing Go Away When You Lose Weight?

Not necessarily. We know that’s not the answer you want to hear, but it’s the truth. Weight loss is not a guaranteed way to prevent thigh chafing. If you’re carrying a few extra pounds then some healthy and safe weight loss may decrease chafing. But, excess skin from rapid weight loss can sometimes make thigh chafing worse. There’s no doubt about it, people of all shapes and sizes can experience chapped thighs.

Thigh Chafing When Losing Weight

Exercising to lose weight may cause even more chafing! Running and other exercises often cause more sweat and friction, which causes chafing between the legs and butt. If you suffer from bad thigh rashes, it may be too painful even to try exercising. Even if you’ve succeeded in toning up and losing weight, you can still be at risk! Extra muscle can also make thighs more likely to touch. You can try applying Body Glide or another anti-chafing agent to your inner legs. However, this can be messy or cause allergic reactions. Unisex exercise thigh bands is your best bet to prevent thighs from rubbing during exercise. Workout bands create a barrier between the legs, so thighs don’t rub against each other. 

Excess Skin & Thigh Chafing When Your Weight Is Fluctuating

If you’ve lost a lot of weight you may experience loose or excess skin. After successfully losing weight, you may have hoped to be free from skin chafing. But unfortunately, excess skin can sometimes make the problem even worse. Skin does not just snap back when you’ve lost a few pounds. Even if you have lost weight in a healthy, slow way, the skin may not bounce back if you had postpartum weight loss, weight loss at a later age, or extreme weight loss after severe obesity. Extreme excess skin can cause pain and frequent infections. It can even put you at risk of necrosis of the skin. Thigh bands or anti-chafing shorts can help prevent any excess skin from rubbing. Anti-chafe shorts like Bandelettes Allure Panty Shorts can also help hold extra skin in place, without the extreme restrictions of shapewear. Excess skin also requires careful cleaning between any skin folds. Cleaning off excess sweat after exercise and drying skin is important in the fight against chafing. Be sure to do this to help prevent infection and painful rashes.

How To Stop Inner Thigh Chafing While Losing Weight

Creams and gels may provide some chafing relief for rashes between the thighs and butt. But prevention is the best approach in the war against chub rub. Try these tips to prevent rashes from ever appearing.

• Wear thigh bands or anti-chafing shorts to prevent skin from rubbing.
• Clean the skin carefully after exercise to remove sweat and salt from the skin.
• Keep skin dry and clean as much as possible.
• Stay hydrated! Hydrated skin won’t rub as much as super-parched skin.

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