Dear Belle,
I work in state level politics (first job). Now that the weather has changed I’ve stopped wearing tights with my dresses and pencil skirts and I have discovered the lovely chafing problem. How do you handle it? Do you suggest a body glide stick (do the even work) or mini shorts underneath a dress? It is painful and awkward.
Thanks! N
I love dresses. And like most women, my thighs touch. So when I walk home on hot summer days, that rubbing can get a little intense. During August, the rubbing could start a campfire. So how do I prevent rubbing from turning into painful chafing?
Some women have good luck with a baby powder-like product. Some women have good luck with spray-on deodorant. Others have good luck with an anti-chafing stick made for runners. But I never did.
For hot weather-induced skin chafing, the only product I use is….wait, for it…Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel. The product creates a breathable barrier that keeps things from getting too rough. (As an aside, some women use it as a makeup primer. I hear it works well.)
As for the Body Glide Stick that your mentioned above, I don’t love it for prevent inner-thigh chafing, but I highly recommend it for breaking in new shoes. It really keeps the blisters to a minimum.
I use Body Glide when I run, and it works quite well for me. On the plus side, it’s not expensive, so if it doesn’t work out, you could still use it as blister block.
In a pinch, I’ve used my Band-Aid brand blister block, too.
I’ve always had luck with baby powder and it’s so cheap. Of course it’s hard to use without getting it elsewhere. So if reapplication is necessary while at work, it might not be a great option.
second this – I put it on in the bathroom and wash my hands before actually getting dressed. Works like a charm
It may get hot, but I wear the Spanx thigh shapers RELIGIOUSLY. They have them on Sale on Rue La La or Gilt all the time. They have new ones that are meshy so not as heavy or confining. I’d highly recommend investing in a few pair and trying it out.
I wear the slip shorts by Jockey, and they are perfect! They prevent chafing, they never roll up, and they act like a slip so the dress material doesn’t stick or cling. Plus at Jockey outlets, I generally find them for around $15 a pair.
I keep seeing ads in magazines for those shorts and was really curious about them. Thanks for the info, I may just try them now
I also swear by the Jockey slip shorts! I have plus-sized thighs and knocked knees so chafing is an issue for me. In addition to Charlie’s pluses, they also wash well.
Try cutting the legs off a pair of pantyhose just above the knee(use a pair with a run). This works like a much lighter, cooler pair of spanx and the nylon acts as a chafing buffer.
I use to wear spanx religiously, but sometimes it was just TOO hot. I have moved on to BodyGlide (like $6 for a stick) and it is fantastic.
Thank you so much for posting this Belle! I seriously thought I was the only one. Cannot wait to try out these solutions!
I use Dove powder deodorant. One stick for my arms and one for my legs. If its a longer day, I might have to reapply later in the day but it does a great job of keeping my inner thighs from becoming damp and chafing. Nylons, unfortunately, can cause enough friction to make things raw down there if there’s a lot of walking to be done. Plus, when its 90 degrees with 95% humidity, I don’t want to deal with them.
Runners body glide does the trick for me–and if you do a lot of 5ks you often will get it free in your race bag, which is pretty nice.
Other than that, I’ve had good luck just wearing things like Nike pros under skirts. They’re just spandex shorts that are long enough to cover the the thigh touching region. Not a bad option, and they’re not terribly bulky.
Style by Joules
I find spanx too hot and constricting in the hot summer months, but I love the new Jockey Skimmies https://www.jockey.com/catalog/product/skimmies-slipshort. I wear dresses/skirts nearly every day to work and I have several colors in rotation that I wear with them. Keep my thighs happy, smooths out any small lumps and bumps and are lightweight enough that I barely notice I’m wearing them.
I like aerosol deodorant in the summer. It gives a little bit of that slippery/powdery surface like baby powder, and slows down any sweating to a manageable level that won’t soak through clothes (which happens down the middle of my back and under my chest on hot and humid days).
I love hearing suggestions on this topic!
If you’re looking for something to wear, I’ve had good luck with the Skimmies Slipshorts from Jockey. They’re lighter than shapewear so they’re more comfortable and less hot during the summer.
Like Belle, I highly recommend the Monistat Anti-Chafing Powder Gel. I used to use baby powder because it’s cheaper, but the Monistat is, in my opinion, more effective and much easier to apply and re-apply.
Hah! I love this! Regular dress and skirt wearer but I never had too much trouble with chafing till I got my preggo thighs… I have just used my stretch mark oil to deal with this and it does help but it’s kind of icky on a hot day. Will definitely try the chafing gel.
YES! I just ordered a new tube of the Monestat gel (of all things!)earlier this week. I keep it in my purse for re-application before the commute home. Slightly absurd, but it does the trick.
I discovered pettipants a couple of years ago and haven’t looked back!
https://www.amazon.com/Velrose-Snip-it-Pettipants-Black-4X/dp/B0006IXCI8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369936674&sr=8-2&keywords=petti+pants
I wear something like this: https://www1.macys.com/shop/product/flexees-by-maidenform-shapewear-light-control-adjusts-to-me-thigh-slimmer-1355?ID=601790&CategoryID=60756#fn=SHAPEWARE_CONTROL%3DLight%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D8%26ruleId%3D22%26slotId%3D4
It barely qualifies as shapewear, and is certainly not spanx strength. But it isn’t as hot either and keeps my thighs from rubbing. I wear a dress or skirt everyday in the summer, and always wear these under them.
OMMMMGGGGGGG BEST POST EVER!!!!!!!
#1- I thought I was the only person with this problem (and no matter how much exercise, will probably always have this problem
#2- Why didn’t I think of any of these solutions?! Aerosol deodorant?! Genius!
THANK YOU!
My thighs touch, but luckily don’t have the chafing issue with regular work wear. Running on the other hand? THIGHS. ON. FIRE. BodyGlide does amazing things for me. Apply it once before a 9 mile run in 85 degree heat and zero chafing. If it works under those conditions, it has to work for just casual walking.
I am definitely in the plus sized category, and I wear my Spanx shorts with pencil skirts, but if I’m wearing something shorter or don’t need the overall Spanx effect, I just use my regular Degree deodorant.
I wear the Jockey Skimmies Slipshorts under dresses now-they come in 2 leg lengths and I wear both. They are not shapewear per se but do smooth the silhouette a little and so far have been very effective and comfy preventing chafing. Neither the waist nor the leg rolls-I find they stay in place and I typically walk 1-2 miles daily at work. I love them. Much better than talcum powder and its relatives, at least for me.
[…] Summertime real talk: my thighs touch and therefor chafing is a problem. Capitol Hill style runs through the options to prevent it. […]
I always thought I must walk weird or have oddly shaped or ridiculously chubby legs because I had this problem and have always been so embarrassed by it. It’s such a relief to hear that this happens to others too. I’ve never tried many of the solutions on here–I love the idea of just using deodorant since it’s something you already have. I carry Lanacane anti-chafe gel in my purse and slip in the restroom to put it on when it gets sticky outside. It works great, but I wish it had a bit more staying power.
Monistat anti chafing gel is the way to go! I keep some in my purse too, just in case.
Amazing post. It’s nice to know I am not alone. I bought the Jockey shorts at Kohl’s today and love them already. This weekend they are 10% off and the cashier scanned another coupon for 15% off for me!