When thigh chafing starts, it’s all you can think about: that stinging, burning sensation that just won’t go away. And it always seems to arrive at the worst time - when you’re dressed up for a summer wedding, sightseeing on holiday, or a few minutes into an exercise class.

If it’s something you suffer from every summer, you’re not alone. Chafing, especially on the inner thigh area, is incredibly common for women of all shapes and sizes.

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The good news is you don’t have to put up with it any more! Thanks to this handy guide, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect anti-chafing solution for you. 

Chafing happens when your skin rubs against another surface. If this causes too much friction, it can damage delicate skin, leading to redness, irritation, stinging, and other symptoms.

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It tends to be worse in areas where skin rubs against skin or clothing. This is often the inner thighs, around the bottom, genitals, armpits, below the breasts and around the nipples, or anywhere with excess skin (after quick weight loss, for example).

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Inner thigh chafing is especially common in the summer. This is because:

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• It’s warm: In the heat, your skin swells a little. You also sweat more to cool down, which can leave salt crystals on the skin. This is the ‘perfect recipe’ for creating friction.

• Certain clothes can cause rubbing: Items like skirts often cause chafing since there’s no barrier between your thighs. Some short styles can be just as bad, especially denim cut-offs, because the rough texture tends to rub more.

• You’re more active: Whether you’re exercising or sightseeing, many people are more active in summer. Unfortunately, more movement means more chances of chafing.

• You’re wearing cotton: Cotton is soft and breathable, which can be great in summer, but it also absorbs moisture from sweat, which leads to more friction.

Anti-chafe shorts are one of the most effective ways to prevent any rubbing. And with celebs like Beyoncé rocking the look, they’re more popular than ever.

High-waisted anti-chafe shorts:

Perfect for wearing under dresses, these extend further up your waist or even over your tummy.

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Shapewear shorts:

Depending on the cut, these can help shape your legs, bottom and tummy while preventing inner thigh chafing. They use features like compression panels to add structure and support, while helping to streamline your silhouette.

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Fitted exercise shorts:

These work under dresses in much the same way as anti-chafing shorts. They use similar breathable, stretchy, sweat-wicking fabrics, and stop your inner thighs from rubbing against each other.

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Exercise shorts:

They’re great for wearing alone or under loose-fitting trousers, but because they’re often colourful and branded, they’re not always suitable with dresses or skirts.

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Anti-chafe shorts are made to sit close to the skin, so they’re often invisible under clothing. But there are a handful of tips to make sure they don’t end up peeking through.

• Unsuitable underwear: Knickers with frills or decorations, or ones which tend to move out of place, can cause chafing at the top of your inner thighs (and elsewhere).

• Close-fitting cotton clothes: As we mentioned, cotton retains moisture, which increases friction.

• Leather and wool: These keep heat in, which only makes chafing more likely.

• Skirts and dresses: If you don’t have any kind of barrier between your thighs, then they’ll inevitably start to rub.

• Thick shorts (or trousers): Shorts in heavier fabrics like denim will retain heat and moisture, boosting the chances of chafing.

• Shorts that cut off at the upper thigh: Any kind of shorts that cut off where your thighs meet - especially short shorts - will cause more chafing.

While anti-chafing shorts are the most effective way to prevent inner thigh friction in summer, there are some other methods that can also help. These won’t completely stop the rubbing, but they can certainly help when shorts aren’t an option (or you forgot to wear them).

• Applying talcum powder to absorb moisture and prevent friction.

• Balms or creams applied to the inner thigh - this creates a barrier between the skin.

• Brush special anti-chafe sticks over the skin - you can get these at most pharmacies.

• Applying antiperspirant or roll-on deodorant to the area.