Hating on my Chub Rub | Skinny Emmie Weight Loss and Plus Size Fashion Blog

Jan 17th, 2013 @ 11:01 pm › Skinny Emmie
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Yep, I’m going to talk about it because so many of us have it and right now it is bugging me so bad that I want to rip my skin off!

chub-rub

I don’t have much of a filter here, so I’ll share what’s going on.

My workouts have felt so incredibly good since the New Year. Challenging, but I can tell I’m progressing by lifting heavier weights or doing a slightly harder variation of something. When I’m in a groove like this, it’s almost like electricity going through my body after a workout. No puppies, rainbows, and glitter coming out of my pores, but it’s such a better feeling than that after doing some awful destructive behavior from my past like binge eating. Makes me hurt to think about it.

Anyway, I’m not sure if it’s dry skin plus more workouts or what, but I have got some major chub rub going on my inner thighs right now. As you’d imagine, losing a large chunk of weight will leave you with sagging skin and reduced skin elasticity. There’s just not as much volume to fill it out. Imagine a balloon after it’s been sitting for a few days. It gets smaller, but it loses the taught shiny exterior and becomes opaque and wrinkly. Yep, I just compared my chub rub ridden thighs with a balloon – you get the point.

image via drauh on Flickr

This week its been bad. I didn’t even have chub rub when training for my half-marathon, and as you can guess, the thighs got a lot more action than they’re getting right now (come on guys, get your heads out of the gutter.) Folds of skin aren’t meant to rub up on each other.

In an attempt to help remedy the chub rub, I’ve taken the following precautions:

Wear tighter fitting clothes which actually minimizes rubbing. This is a good tactic and has worked pretty well, although I don’t really ever wear baggy pants so don’t know the alternative
Dry the area immediately. If I’m sweaty, hop in the shower and then dry off the area really well. Let it breathe.
Don’t scratch it. For real.
Before workouts, add Body Glide to the bad areas. It’s a anti-chafe skin lubricant, which sounds awful, but actually does help reduce the irritation during the workout (and no, this isn’t a sponsored post!)

bodyglide

Two things I’ve tried that were highly unsuccessful?

Baby powder before the gym. 1) you then reek of baby powder; 2) as soon as you start moving, the powder is flying out of your thighs – through your pants and highly visible; 3) it almost leaves the area too dry, which then makes the skin kind of rough feeling.
Medicated Gold Bond powder. Did anyone know that the “medicated” part in Gold Bond is menthol? Don’t get it near any bits you don’t want to have an intense cooling sensation. Isolating the area doesn’t work. That stuff creeps to places it shouldn’t go.

I’d be remiss to mention that if you have chub rub that won’t go away, there is a chance it could be a skin yeast infection. Oy. Here are some signs from WebMD:

Rash
Patches that ooze clear fluid
Pimple-like bumps
Itching or burning

Do you have any tips for chub rub?

Categories: Fitness
Tags: chafing, chub rub, skin, weight loss

http://profiles.google.com/limar082002 Lisa Stalsworth

diaperene, A&D ointment, and the store brand of A&D have worked for me
Nikky

I just always use anti-perspirant. Not sure if this is bad for you, but it definitely prevents mine from rubbing together. My sister who runs marathons gave me this little tip, and it changed my life. It’s cheaper than Body Glide, but basically the same concept, though I do buy an additional stick just for down there, because it’s also good after shaving the bikini area to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs!
http://twitter.com/PoodlesMcGee Poodles McGee

I’ve occasionally worn spandex shorts under work out pants, for an extra layer of skin protection. Also, I’m partial to capri-length work out bottoms; shorts ride up, pants sag down, but capris stay put, keeping that fabric layer separating adjacent skin areas.

Sometimes chafing can raise a big, red welt, and I’ve found that it’s a good idea to keep a box of the 2″ x 3″ band aids in your medicine cabinet to cover them.
http://twitter.com/danceliftrun Tiffany Jorgensen

If only itching didn’t feel so good though! I usually slather the area in antibiotic ointment, although I should try some Body Glide to prevent it from happening in the first place!
http://twitter.com/300poundsdown 300 Pounds Down

yes yes yes yes! That’s all I can say. Thanks for saying it b/c we’ve all been there. And if anyone wants to know what large areas of my body looks like…that balloon pic sums it up!! But I’d rather look like a deflated balloon than suffer from lack of oxygen b/c I’m suffocating under my weight. What my skin looks like doesn’t bother me as much as what it feels like when it is being set on fire from what you describe!! I used to be a walking baby powder factory until I found body glide. Amen to that!
Ang

Yup. I have issues under my stomach apron. As I lose more weight, I can see it getting worse, unfortuantely. I do use Gold Bond to keep the itching down, but it burns a bit. My doc, in the past, has prescribed a medicated powder when things get bad. I use Body Glide too
Emily

I really love using Monistat anti-chaffing lotion. It’s awesome.
Sarah

Like Nikky, I use antiperspirant in place of Body Glide in areas that i experience chaffage. Works like a charm!
http://www.theyearofthephoenix.com/ Jill (Lady Lazarus)

I love the balloon comparison! It’s such a simple and effective way of describing what my skin looks like these days.
http://twitter.com/debslosingit Debra Wilson

I sometimes get this on my upper thighs, but its only when I’m wearing pants that was a little baggy and they don’t fit right. If I wear close-fitting pants (like my yoga pants) I don’t have any problems.
http://twitter.com/WanderingAngie Wandering Angie

I love you have no filter! This is the kind of thing so many people must come across but never talk about!
I use the anti chafe when I open water swim as the wetsuit can rub, but never thought for the gym so good call!
Also I find it gets worse this time of year as my skin tends to be dryer overall, so good moisturising all over is a tip from me
Jules@Fat Guy,Skinny Wallet

Wearing bike shorts or spandex…runnibg tights under shorts solved the problem when I used to deal with this. It helps so much!
Carol

Body Glide is THE BOMB. I adore that stuff.
Tara

Seriously, use baby diaper cream to get some relief after it happens. Anything with a high zinc content. Just make sure you cover it up with a bandage or it will rub off onto your clothes.
I get it in my belly button since I had my gall bladder removed, the surgeon must have changed the shape (?) of it or something and now the skin there rubs together and gets raw ALL THE TIME.
TJ

Have you tried aquaphor? It works quite well for me — similar to body glide, somewhat less convenient since it’s in a tub or tube rather than a stick like body glide, but it really coats well (and moisturizes, bonus).
http://twitter.com/lottalatte Denise Elliott

100% agree with the Body Glide. When I used to run marathon and half marathon distances, I’d basically have to cover everywhere on my body that even touched a seam or roughness on my clothing. That stuff saved my life!
Gretchen

You had me laughing at the mental image of baby powder working its way out through your clothing. As a cyclist, I use Bag Balm. If chafing does occur I use diaper cream.
http://twitter.com/StarvingDiva StarvingDiva

I used to get yeast infections of the skin right on my panty line, it would be painful, as ridiculous as this sounds I found a way to get rid of it using raw honey, yogurt and apple cider vinegar, no joke, it works immediately.
Joanne M.

Good post! I really need to try Body Glide and I might try anti-perspirant too!
Emily

After drying off really well, try lotioning up the area directly after showering – will help with the dry skin part of the equation
Amanda Brown

The BEST thing I have ever come across is Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel. I’m telling you, it works wonders! I put this on before a work out and a lot of times just in the summer time when there is extra moisture and heat down there and don’t chafe at all. If I don’t have it on and I end up chafing, I can put this stuff all over it at night before bed and it feels sooo much better in the morning.
Heatha Peta

Like Nikky said, just use some deordorant. It changed my life as I live in AZ and LIVE in sun dresses, so my thoughs were constantly making love and making my life miserable.
Jen

I also highly recommend Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel. It is magical stuff, and has allowed me to only wear my bike shorts for workouts and NOT under my broomstick skirts, even in the heat of summer. I carry a tube in my bag at all times as it also comes in handy for lingerie chafing. Most days I don’t even need to reapply, it works that well! It also does not stain clothing, has no smell, is not sticky, doesn’t sweat off, and seems to absorb into the skin instantly. Great, great stuff, worth every solitary penny.

In the past I tried everything – Body Glide, Anti-Monkey Butt Powder (which actually worked pretty well, it’s just very messy), deodorant, Bag Balm, Desitin – but it always wore off or didn’t quite work as well as I needed it to, and in the end the Monistat is the clear winner. I’ve been using it for about four years and I’ve recommended it to countless friends, and not just for chub rub, a friend’s armpit was chafing after shoulder surgery had him in a sling. All of them have thanked me!
http://greenhatlady.com/ Berlin Patience

i have that problem to. what i do is I wear tights underneath my pants and I do not get chub rub.
B

I use lotrimin cream whenever I get those yeast infections of the skin. It’s sold over the counter in Athlete’s Foot treatments — I usually just get the store brand. It doesn’t have much scent, and does the job of clearing things up in about 48 hours. I’ve gotten used to wearing Spanks except when I’m sleeping. I’m not sure if I don’t notice much thigh chafing because the garments keep things in place, or if the Spanks are helping to keep my skin a bit firmer as I lose weight. I hope that’s the case!
CarrieRae

Undersummers Shortlettes are comfortable shorts made to wear under dresses with a stay put, anti-chafe leg. They also have shorts and capris that are great to work out in

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Do you have any tips for chub rub?