Thigh rub. It’s not just for sundresses and daisy-duke shorts. It’s not about how much you weigh or how much you work out. It’s a universal problem that healthcare professionals of all shapes and sizes suffer from and it’s time we have a chit chat about it.

According to Good Housekeeping, the problem is trifold: sweat, friction, and fabric choice.

For each contributing factor to thigh rub, we’ve found the best fixes at three different price points so your wallet doesn’t feel the same burn.

1.  Sweat- First off, we ALL do it. Sweat is an unavoidable part of being a human being. Our pits sweat, our feet sweat, our faces sweat, our boobs sweat, our thighs sweat. For the sake of being sensitive to those among us unwilling to speak this truth we’ll even refer to it as “glistening”. The point is- it happens. We as evolved creatures have the opportunity to do something about that so it doesn’t become a day ruiner. These options are not only great smelling but they are all talc-free.
                     a.  Lush’s Silky Underwear: Lush keeps it cruelty-free with their vegan-friendly products and this powder is no exception to the rule with ingredients like cocoa butter powder to keep you smooth and jasmine absolute to give wherever you choose to sprinkle it a light, clean scent. The product sells online and in-stores for $9.95 ($4.74/oz).
                     b.  Lady Anti-Monkey Butt Powder: Aside from having a hilarious name, you may recognize this brand from its line of ointments for babies suffering from diaper rash. No longer just for your bundle of joy, Monkey Butt combines cornstarch and calamine lotion powder to produce a product that absorbs moisture while eliminating those hot spots. Online and in major retailers, like Walmart, the product sells for $8.16 ($1.36/oz).
                     c.  Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Baby Powder: Coming from a company that has made their mark using all natural ingredients in personal hygiene the expectations are high here. They do not fail to deliver with this talc free powder lightly scented with your favorite Burt’s Bees floral notes. Online at Target.com , the product sells for $8.99 ($1.19/oz).

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Baby Powder

Looking for the already-at-home fix for this? Try Vaseline in a light layer. Just avoid getting it on your clothes as it might end up staining.

2.  Friction- The friction of skin on skin can cause some serious burn over long periods of time. It’s important to point out that just because you experience this discomfort doesn’t mean you need to hit the gym to drop a few pounds. Even top athletes suffer from what some refer to as “chub rub”.
                     a.  SBR Body Care’s Skin Slick: Their bold claim of being a product for anyone who has ever had a blister from any form of activity covers all the bases in one broad and bold claim. The aerosol can and spray on application covers everything else. Fortified with skin-nourishing vitamins this spray sells online for $19.80 ($13.02/oz).
                     b.  Body Glide for Her: Marathoners and cyclists have been using Body Glide to prevent and ease spots of high friction and moisture for two long and sweaty decades. The company produced a line specifically for women and in their formula include Vitamins A, B, E, and F to protect and nourish skin. The product sells online and in major retailers, like Target, for $7.99 ($9.99/oz).
                     c.  Monistat Complete Care Chafing Relieve Powder Gel: Okay, so the name is super long. However, produced by one of the most authoritative companies on down-there-care you can be rest assured they know what they’re talking about. This gel is for prevention as much as it is for healing sore spots that have already formed. Online and at major retailers, like Walmart, the product sells for $7.59 ($5.06/oz).

Body Glide

Already-at-home fix? Antiperspirant. Watch funny girl and body positivity ambassador, Amy Schumer, demonstrate this technique before she attended the 2016 Met Gala.

3.  Fabric Choice- There are two solid rules to follow here.
                     One- Stray away from cotton and cotton blends. Cotton, while the fabric of our lives, does not actually perform well in high stress and high sweat situations. It’s why quality athletic wear doesn’t invite cotton to play.
                     Two- Stray away from loose fitting fabrics. While thigh rub can and does indeed occur when wearing leggings or skinny jeans the fabric barrier between your legs is actually doing its best to perform the same task as the products listed above- protection. Loose fitting fabrics allow for skin to skin contact and if you forgot your Body Glide at home that day then you’re in for a rough and red patchy ride.

For our scrub wearing friends out there, what do you do? Cotton has been a part of scrubs fabric as long as we’ve been wearing scrubs! At cherokee4less.com we have two different brands that prove to be most effective at keeping thigh rub and chafing at bay while you’re clocked in and thigh rub is the last thing on your mind.
                     a.  Cherokee Infinity: These pants are a polyester/spandex blend and come recommended by The Katie Duke because of the reinforced fabric where thigh rub is a threat to threads. The low-rise, straight leg, drawstring style pant comes in 21 colors and sells for $28.99. The low-rise, slim, pull on pant comes in 16 colors and sells for $27.99.
                     b.  Dickies: The men’s pant offering in this line is a blend of polyester, rayon, and spandex twill. Not a stitch of cotton in sight. The men's zip fly pull-on pant comes in 3 colors and sells for $25.99.
                     b.  Cherokee Luxe: The women's pant offering in this line is a blend of polyester, rayon, and spandex twill as well. Following the rule of "no cotton" this pant will wick moisture and keep you dry. The women's low rise drawstring cargo pant comes in 21 colors and sells for $28.99.

The Katie Duke in Cherokee Infinity Scrubs

At the end of your shift, you may feel as though you’ve run a marathon. If someone tracked your heart rate they’d likely assume the same. Your mind will definitely feel the burn but your thighs shouldn’t have to. Keep in mind the three contributing factors to chub-rub and try the different powders and salves to nip it in the bud. You should also pick up some cotton-free scrubs that work for you, not against you. Your thighs will thank you.