Thick thighs save lives. #Facts. But we've also learned the hard way what happens when our thighs rub together for too long.
Chafing. That type of pain hits different. I've had times where I've literally had to ice my inner thighs because I wanted to show out in a pair of shorts. But chafing has been an issue for far too long. And we can't let it get in the way of our summer plans… whatever they are.
There are ways we can wear shorts and sundresses without having to suffer the aftermath of chafing. I might be late to the game, but I've found some solutions and wanted to share the wealth.
Anti-Chafing Thigh Bands
I was seriously missing out in life before I knew these babies even existed! This goes to show how major the chafing issue is and how much it needs to be overcome. The best part is that you could still rock your sundresses with no shame. But wait! There's more. There's also a variety of designs you can select like sheer and lace to the classic from Bandelettes and traditional nylon and/or spandex material. They can be found at most major department stores and of course on Amazon. Keep in mind this product isn't designed to work as a shaper, but rather a barrier that can prevent your skin from rubbing together.
Corn Starch + Coconut Oil = Win
From hairstyling to cooking, coconut oil is the multi-purpose ingredient that keeps on giving. And apparently, there's another way we can benefit from it. When paired with corn starch, it can prevent chafing and irritation, especially inside our upper thighs. The plus side is that it gets your thighs moisturized but not all greasy, because who wants to trade in chafing for sweaty and greasy? You can put some on before you head out for your summer festivities or keep the mix in a container to apply as you go throughout your day. Do you boo!
Get Monistat Stat
I will say, some of us have been ashamed to have Monistat in our bags. But between us ladies, we know that it can help us out… and not just for unexpected yeast infections that make us question our entire beings. Monistat actually has a chafing relief powder gel. Basically, it goes on as a gel but dries as a powder. You can put it between those thighs or really anywhere you experience chafing (which is unfortunately any space where your skin rubs together *insert eyeroll here*). It also serves as an extra dose of vitamin E for your skin, which is also a score.
Good Ol' Talcum Powder
Talcum powder can do wonders on its very own. And you might have already heard about the superpower it has to prevent chafing. Talcum powder allows your thighs to block out any extra moisture that causes chafing, like sweat. It keeps that part of your body nice and fresh, so you don't have to worry about itching and irritation when you should be enjoying your summer.
Anti-Chafe Lube
It only makes sense to lean on a product that's designed to prevent chafing. And we all know lube can help reduce uncomfortable friction in more ways than one. Body Glide for Her is one of the most popular products as it moisturizes the skin without leaving it wet or greasy. It's free of mineral oils, petroleum and lanolin but full of healthy vitamins like A, B, E, and F and keep your melanin nice and hydrated. It also features all-day protection, so you don't have to keep on applying it multiple times. Now you can get back to drinking your water, minding your business and flourishing.
All-Natural Products
As you might have guessed, chafing can be prevented with products and ingredients you probably already have in your own home. One mix is turmeric and water that you can apply between your thighs and wash off after 30 minutes. Another is essential oils like tea tree oil and of course coconut oil. And oatmeal isn't only used for the most important meal of the day. It can prevent chafing when you let it soak on your thighs for about 20 minutes. And there you have it!
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- How to Deal with Inner Thigh Chafing | Vaseline® ›
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Sooner than later, you may feel drained, depleted, and resentful due to unmet needs and boundary violations.
When your needs aren’t met, you will serve someone else's standards while neglecting your own. This is why it is so vital that we take inventory of our relationships and assess if they are relationships that honor our needs, our boundaries, and our truth.
1. You allow yourself to build more intimacy in your relationships.
Im Free Stephen Colbert GIF by The Late Show With Stephen ColbertGiphyIntimacy is the heart of a healthy relationship. When we understand our partners, we build intimacy with them. Vulnerability is a conduit for emotional intimacy in safe relationships. Our relationships thrive when we feel emotionally connected and supported by our loved ones.
Nevertheless, a healthy relationship does not mean a perfect relationship, and sometimes we need to assess and address what's working in our relationships and what may need some fine-tuning. When we are open to learning, growing, and developing deeper bonds with our loved ones, we invite them to preserve our relationship through open dialogue centered around honesty, love, respect, and safety.
2. You are choosing yourself and are being honest with yourself.
When you consider spring cleaning your relationships, you offer yourself a token of love. You are communicating that YOU matter, and your feelings, energy, and the overall health of your relationships matter. Spring cleaning your relationships allows you to be there for yourself.
When we choose ourselves, we advocate for ourselves.
So many of us are starting to realize that we have every right to advocate for ourselves, even if the environment we grew up in did not support our emotional or physical well-being.
Now that we can advocate for ourselves as adults, we get to choose our relationships, not from a place of obligation or fear but from a place of reciprocity, love, and respect.
3. It can help you to get clear on things you may have suppressed.
Michelle GIF by The BacheloretteGiphySuppression happens when we actively push uncomfortable thoughts and feelings out of our minds. When something painful happens, and we are left with no resolve, we can suppress how we truly feel as an act of self-preservation for the relationship.
Nevertheless, with honesty also comes vulnerability with yourself. Maybe you have been unhappy in certain relationships for a while, but it was too painful to address, or maybe you have been suppressing how you feel because that is what is expected of you in your relationships.
Although concealing your feelings may protect you from experiencing them, keep in mind that the body stores all of our emotions. There can be serious long-term side effects of emotional suppression, such as physical ailments linked to autoimmune disease.
Our mind, body, and heart are all interconnected, so assessing your relationships through spring cleaning not only improves your overall wellness but can also prevent anxiety, depression, and other chronic illnesses.
4. You can reflect on how you’re showing up in your relationships.
This one is my favorite! Spring cleaning your relationships gives you an opportunity to see yourself more clearly. If you are going through an imaginary checklist of what everyone in your life is doing wrong, you may be a part of the problem. Spring cleaning your relationships is not about what everyone else is doing wrong; it’s about accountability.
Take this time to reflect on how you show up in your relationships.
Are you kind and respectful to your loved ones? Do you honor their boundaries? What can you do to improve? How can you become a better listener? A better communicator?
Use this time to put a flashlight on your heart and take inventory of the places you love people from. Relationships are co-created, meaning both people play a role in the dynamic. Assess your role in your relationships and be the change you want to see.
5. Setting boundaries will reveal the health of your relationships.
Family Vacation Fox GIF by GrandfatheredGiphyNedra Tawwab, the author of Setting Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself, defines boundaries as a "verbal or an action that you communicate to someone to feel safe, secure, and supported in a relationship." As we are spring-cleaning our relationships, it’s imperative that we check in with our boundaries.
As humans, we are forever evolving, growing, and changing. As we grow, the boundaries that worked for us ten years ago may no longer serve us today. This is why it is important that we communicate our boundaries as they change. People cannot read our minds, and it is unfair to expect them to, no matter how much you think they should just “know” you.
All relationships need boundaries because people need to know how we want to be treated. In healthy relationships, boundaries are honored, and differences are respected. In unhealthy relationships, boundaries are constantly violated and not taken seriously.
When you learn to set healthy boundaries and you start communicating them through your season of spring cleaning, allow your boundaries to reveal the health of your relationships. This may come with a sigh of relief, or this may come with immense grief, but I once heard someone say, “Struggling with the truth is much better than being comforted by a lie.”
Let your relationships reveal themselves to you so you can form healthier bonds, repair broken bonds, or release connections that no longer serve you.
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Feature image by dragana991/ Getty Images
Originally published on March 24, 2023