What Causes Chafing And How Do You Prevent It?

Key Takeaways:

• Friction Plus Moisture Drive It: Chafing develops where repeated skin-on-skin or skin-on-fabric friction combines with sweat or moisture on the surface.
• Barrier Strength Is The Real Fix: Skin with a healthy, well-supported barrier resists chafing better than skin that is dry or already compromised.
• Fabric & Formula Both Matter: Preventing chafing involves choosing the right clothing and applying a protective moisturiser before friction-prone activities.

Chafing is caused by repeated friction between skin surfaces or clothing, made significantly worse when moisture from sweat softens the outer skin layer and increases surface resistance. It is prevented by reducing friction through breathable fabrics and compression garments and by keeping skin well moisturised with a barrier-supporting formula applied to friction-prone areas before activity.

MooGoo is a proudly Aussie-made, family-owned skincare brand that makes gentle formulas with natural, skin-friendly ingredients to help support damaged and compromised skin. This page explains what causes chafing, what it looks like, what makes it worse and how to manage it day to day.

What Causes Chafing

Chafing results from repeated friction against the skin's surface, another area of skin or clothing and fabric. On its own, friction is manageable. Combined with moisture, it becomes significantly more damaging.

How Friction And Sweat Work Together

Dry skin-on-skin contact creates mild friction, but sweat changes the equation. Moisture softens the outer layer of skin and increases friction between two surfaces, so the skin drags and catches rather than gliding. Each repetition of that catching motion removes a small layer of the surface cells. Over time, the result is raw, reddened and sometimes broken skin. This is particularly common in the inner thighs, underarms, beneath the chest and around waistbands, wherever two surfaces meet repeatedly during movement.

Why The Skin Barrier Matters

The skin barrier, the outermost protective layer composed of skin cells and natural lipids, is the body's first line of defence against friction-related damage. When that barrier is intact and well moisturised, it is more resilient to the repeated surface stress that causes chafing. Dry, dehydrated or already compromised skin has a weakened barrier, making it more susceptible. This is why people with Eczema, Dermatitis or dry skin can be more prone to chafing, even in conditions that wouldn't bother healthier skin.

Clothing, Weight And Environmental Factors

Fabric type significantly affects chafing risk. Synthetic fabrics that do not breathe trap heat and moisture against the skin, intensifying friction. Coarser textures create more surface abrasion than smooth fabrics. Heat and humidity increase sweat production, compounding the moisture problem. Long-distance walking, running and cycling increase friction exposure time, multiplying cumulative damage over time.

What Does Chafe Look Like

Chafing typically presents as red, irritated skin with a raw or abraded texture in areas subject to repeated friction. The skin may feel hot to the touch and sting when wet or when clothing comes into contact with it. In more severe cases, the surface can break down, producing open, weeping patches that are painful and vulnerable to infection if not managed carefully.

• Mild Chafing: Redness and warmth across a defined area, slight tenderness with contact, no surface breakdown.
• Moderate Chafing: More pronounced redness, stinging that persists between contact events and the skin surface may feel rough or slightly abraded.
• Severe Chafing: Broken skin, weeping or oozing, significant pain with any contact. This stage requires careful, gentle management and keeping the area clean and protected. If you notice signs of infection, such as increasing pain, swelling or pus, see your GP.
• Chafing With Existing Skin Conditions: People with Eczema or Dermatitis may find chafing triggers a broader flare, as friction disrupts an already fragile barrier.
• Distinguishing From Rash: Chafing stays confined to friction zones and improves once friction is removed. Contact Dermatitis or heat rash often spreads beyond those zones.

Understanding where chafing sits on this scale helps determine the right response.

How To Prevent Chafing Naturally

Prevention works on two levels: reducing friction itself and strengthening the skin so it resists damage when friction occurs. Both matter and neither replaces the other.

Choosing The Right Clothing And Fabrics

Smooth, breathable natural fibres and moisture-wicking technical fabrics reduce both friction and sweat accumulation on the skin's surface. Seamless or flat-seam construction in high-friction areas like the inner thigh, underarm and chest prevents the ridge of a seam from acting as a focused abrasion point. Properly fitting clothing avoids both the bunching that creates uneven friction and the tightness that restricts airflow and increases heat. Compression shorts or leggings under looser outer layers provide a consistent, smooth surface between skin surfaces during exercise or extended walking.

Applying A Protective Barrier Before Activity

A well-formulated barrier cream applied to friction-prone areas before activity physically reduces abrasion and helps the skin maintain moisture during movement. MooGoo's Double Cream with Ceramides, made for very dry, damaged and fragile skin, is formulated with Ceramides, Glycerin and Squalane to help lock in moisture and keep irritants out. It's clinically shown to reduce transepidermal water loss (the moisture your skin loses to the air) after a single application, making it a practical protective option before extended activity.

A handy tip: MooGoo's Deodorant Sticks also double as a great anti-chafe balm. Glide a little onto your inner thighs, underarms or anywhere that rubs before a run, ride or long walk to add slip and help reduce friction. They're made with Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil and Olive Squalane, and are free from Aluminium and Bicarb Soda. MooGoo's Sensitive Skin Collection brings together formulas suited to fragile, reactive skin.

Keeping Skin Well Moisturised Between Activities

Skin that is consistently well-hydrated maintains better barrier function than skin that only receives moisture reactively. Applying a nourishing moisturiser daily to areas prone to chafing, particularly the thighs, underarms and any fold areas, helps keep the skin barrier resilient between activity sessions. MooGoo's Which Moisturiser Is Best for Me guide is a practical resource for identifying which formula suits your skin type and dryness level for this consistent daily step.

Natural Ingredients That Support Chafed Skin

When chafing has already occurred, the priority shifts to calming the irritation, supporting the barrier and allowing the skin to recover without further disruption.

Ceramides And Why They Matter For Barrier Repair

Ceramides are lipids naturally present in the skin's outer layer that hold moisture in and prevent external irritants from penetrating. When friction damages the barrier, Ceramide levels in the affected area can be depleted, slowing recovery. The Double Cream with Ceramides uses Ceramide III, a skin-identical lipid, to help replenish what friction-damaged skin has lost. MooGoo’s Moisturisers Collection covers a range of formulas from lightweight daily options through to barrier-focused creams for seriously compromised skin.

Glycerin, Squalane And Allantoin As Supporting Ingredients

Glycerin is a humectant that draws moisture to the skin's surface, helping maintain hydration in dry or high-friction conditions. Squalane, derived from Olive, is a lightweight, skin-compatible emollient that supports the lipid layer without sitting heavily on the surface. Allantoin helps calm irritated skin and supports surface comfort. Together, they help hydrate, support the skin barrier and calm irritation. MooGoo's Skincare Collection covers the full range of body and face formulas for a complete natural routine.

What Not To Apply To Chafed Skin

Harsh detergents, alcohol-based products and highly fragranced formulas should be avoided on raw skin. These can strip away any remaining lipids and add further irritation to already compromised skin. MooGoo leaves Parabens and Phenoxyethanol out of its formulas entirely. Choosing products with a clear, transparent ingredient list is especially important when skin is broken, as damaged skin absorbs more of what you put on it.

Final Thoughts

Chafing is caused by friction, moisture and a skin barrier that cannot withstand repeated surface stress without support. Understanding those three factors makes prevention and recovery much more manageable.

MooGoo's Double Cream with Ceramides is made with skin-friendly ingredients like Ceramides, Glycerin and Squalane, and is free from Parabens, Phenoxyethanol and fragrance. For skin that is prone to chafing, regularly damaged by friction or simply needs consistent barrier support, it's a gentle, practical place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chafing

Can chafing cause long-term skin damage if left untreated?

Repeated chafing at the same site without treatment can progressively weaken the skin barrier, making it increasingly susceptible to further damage.

Is chafing the same as a friction burn?

They are related but not identical. Friction burns involve faster, more intense surface damage, while chafing develops gradually through repeated lower-intensity friction over a longer period.

Can babies and toddlers develop chafing?

Yes. Skin folds in the neck, underarms and thighs are common sites for chafing in babies, especially in warm weather. Keeping skin folds clean and dry and using a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser suited to sensitive skin can help. MooGoo's Double Cream with Ceramides is fragrance-free and suitable for all ages.

Does body weight affect chafing risk?

Higher body weight increases skin-to-skin contact in fold areas, thereby raising the risk of chafing. This is a mechanical factor, not a health judgement and applies to anyone regardless of overall fitness.

Is it safe to exercise with mild chafing?

Mild chafing that has not broken the skin can be managed with a protective barrier application before activity. Exercising on broken or weeping chafed skin risks introducing bacteria and slowing recovery.

Can I use a deodorant stick to prevent chafing?

Yes. MooGoo's Deodorant Sticks double as a handy anti-chafe balm. Glide a little onto your inner thighs, underarms or anywhere that rubs before activity to add slip and help reduce friction. Avoid applying them to broken skin.

Can tight sportswear cause chafing even with moisture-wicking fabric?

Yes. Poorly fitting tight sportswear with seams or edges that dig into the skin can create focal friction points even if the fabric itself is moisture-wicking and breathable.