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Here at Thigh Society, we’re all about avoiding inner thigh chafing. Not only is chafing uncomfortable and painful, it also often comes with other unwanted side effects. One of those is hyperpigmentation in your inner thighs, something that can feel embarrassing but is actually totally normal. Here’s why you might be experiencing discoloration in that area, what you can do to stop dark inner thigh chafing and how to treat your skin to alleviate the excess pigmentation.
Why are my inner thighs dark? Is chafing causing discoloration?
Inner thigh chafing occurs when your skin rubs together and the friction causes irritation. This irritation can lead to everything from bumps to welts and rashes, which can last for days. As a response to the damage and irritation, your skin may produce extra melanin. Also referred to as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, this discoloration is caused by trauma to your skin and can show up as hyperpigmentation in smaller patches or larger swaths covering your inner-thigh skin. It can affect people of all ages and skin types, but is more likely to occur on people with darker skin tones, as their skin produces more melanin overall.
How to Prevent Dark Inner Thigh Chafing
Hyperpigmentation can take some time to fade — we’re talking days, weeks or even months. This is especially true when your skin has experienced extensive trauma, like scarring caused by inner thigh chafing. Avoiding chafing in that area is the best way to avoid hyperpigmentation. A fabric barrier between your thighs is one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to prevent inner thigh chafing. And that doesn’t mean you have to permanently wear pants! Even when you want to wear a flowy short dress, a pair of anti-chafe shorts can keep your thighs free of irritation. Love the comfort of cotton? Our The Cotton shorts are the perfect piece to throw on to stop butt sweat and skin rubbing from happening. Looking for something barely there? Our The Cooling shorts are so thin and heat-regulating you might even forget you’re wearing them.
How to Treat Dark Inner Thigh Chafing
If the damage is done and you already have hyperpigmentation due to chafing on your inner thighs then there are a few ways to help reduce the discoloration. You can treat it similarly to how you would your face with creams and ointments. It’s also important to keep the discolored areas out of the sun as this can cause more hyperpigmentation. If the discoloration persists for long periods of time you may want to consult with a doctor to get a prescription. Hydroquinone, cortisone and tretinoin are popular ingredients in the fight against hyperpigmentation. Topical medications may help if over-the-counter products aren’t delivering. Lastly, if your hyperpigmentation persists there are also some high-tech solutions to help you fight discoloration, including lasers or microdermabrasion. These types of treatments should be administered by a dermatologist who can help you decide which option is best for you.
Conclusion
Dark inner thigh chafing is normal and frequently a byproduct of skin trauma, especially with people who have more melanin-rich skin to begin with. The best way to avoid hyperpigmentation on your inner thigh area is to prevent chafing. A pair of anti-chafe shorts will help with that — it’s as easy as just slipping them on to create a comfy and protective barrier. If you have dark inner thighs caused by chafing, you may enlist topical creams to help and if the issue doesn’t go away, a consultation with a dermatologist may help. At the end of the day, our bodies are all unique. If you don’t want to shell out dollars to treat hyperpigmentation, then embrace it (and get yourself a pair of Thigh Society shorts to say thank you to your hardworking thighs). There’s nothing to be ashamed about.
