What am I supposed to do about THIS?

  • Yesterday I noticed something was hurting along the leg of my underwear, on the inside of my leg. I was almost done walking so I just kept going. I forgot about it until I got into a hot bath. OWWW. I got a mirror to look. I have a tear on the inside crease my leg!! It hurts to sit, walk, move in general. I'm not wearing underwear. A bathing suit isn't going to happen either, that is for sure. Anything I can do about it? Anyone else had this issue? I'm guessing it's from friction during exercise. I have to meet with a trainer tomorrow which means I'm going to have to put on underwear and move around. Hopefully I'm not in tears after five minutes. I'm going to try to cover it with something, then put the underwear over that. It's killing me just sitting. And how stupid? I've never even heard of this before. I'm ridiculous.
  • I have never heard of such a thing happening! How deep is the tear? Just the very top surface of your skin, or deeper? I am trying to mentally understand exactly what all happened. When I have friction in that area of my legs, I usually use cornstarch or baby powder frequently, and I find that helps, but if you're dealing with a open wound, that's not going to be a good idea. Hmmm....well, I'm baffled! Is the tear short enough that you could get creative with some band-aids to provide some cushioning for when you move around? I hope you are able to figure out something that helps you to not be in so much pain!!
  • I don't think it's too deep. It's long though, so band aids don't work. Last night I put a piece of cloth on it with some band aids holding it on. I think that is what I will try tomorrow. It didn't stay all night but it lasted a while. I had a few friends say they have heard of this happening but they've never had it. I just think it's weird. I've never heard of it either.
  • I am so sorry this has happened. I have had problems with chaffing in my genital area because of my running. No tears but uncomfortable just the same. I thought wearing a pad would help--nope, it made it worse! I was running down the street wanting to rip the sanitary napkin out of my underpants! Youch.
  • Liquid band aid may help since it's in such an unusual place....my advice would be to find better fitting underwear. Your elastic band shouldn't be doing this to you when you are exercising.
  • i sort of know what you mean, in the same place i have had chaff...but it wasnt just caff it was unbelievable painful, and probably almost on the verge of what you have. i really dont think there is much you can do to stop the pain except wait and put some sort of cream on it that heals wounds. is there anyway you can change your meeting with the trainer..because i dont think there is anything that can make the pain stop!

    arr i am so sorry i really do feel your pain you poor thing!
  • I have had elastic friction problems that were similar. I've had actual cuts from the elastic (which it kind of sounds like you're discribing), wider patches of skin along the crease rubbed raw, and even blisters in the area. It can be hard to get them to heal, without some creative solution, because it's so easy to rerub the injury.

    For me, the solution was boycut underwear or women's boxers (where there's no elastic in the creases, and the underwear end further down on the leg).

    I get the Just My Size brand from Walmart (the link below is from the JMS website). Fruit of the Loom has a similar cut in both plus and regular sizes, and any "shorts style" undies solve the problem.

    http://www.jms.com/product/20520.html?cgnbr=4011000000

    To help heal it up, I'd try zinc ointment. I use Johnson's No More Rash Diaper Rash Cream with Zinc Oxide 2 in 1 formula (also from Walmart). It's better than other zinc oxide skin creams because it has a less greasy formula than other zinc oxide creams, so it's more like lotion than Crisco. It's a little more expensive than other zinc oxide creams, but still under $5. My dermatologist recommended it both for the elastic rub and for a raw face rash I had (yeah, I felt weird putting diaper rash cream on my face).
  • While it heals, totally change out the style of underwear. Wearing the same style with your trainer will make it worse. Ouch! You've gotten some good advice. The only other thing I'd recommend is keeping it really clean and dry and put a little triple antibiotic ointment on it if you can. You might look for a pair of spandex type shorts to wear as underwear to meet with your trainer.
  • It's chafe and some people are just more prone to it than others. While changing what type of undergarment you wear can help, you may stay prone. And especially when you are still healing

    When working out apply Bodyglide (available at running stores) or SportsShield (I've not tried this brand, but the people who have seem to like it better than bodyglide). In fact I would wear it all the time (during the day) until your chafe heals in that particular area.

    Keep an eye on it, chafe in that area is prone to yeast or bacterial infections. In which case a combo paste of lotrimin, neosporin and hydrocortizone cream will relieve the pain and kill the infection.

    If you dont have bodyglide or sportsshield in the house, put vaseline on it while working out or whenever you have to wear underwear. But try to clean it off and sleep commando so it will air out.
  • Try wearing something like this under your pants instead of underwear along with that combo paste that ennay mentionned ... These types of shorts is all I wear now under my gym clothes and dress pants, I started wearing these because I really really HATE panty lines...

  • Quote: is there anyway you can change your meeting with the trainer..because i dont think there is anything that can make the pain stop!
    It took us 4 weeks to get this appointment with her. I really don't want to cancel. It's free if we do it before the end of January.
  • I guess I'll go look at underwear tomorrow afternoon. It's just odd I've NEVER had this and now all of a sudden I have an open wound. I'm bummed I probably won't be able to get into my bathing suit for a while. I've been swimming a couple times a week. I think that is probably annoying the area as well. I wear a one piece with another skirt over it so I actually have on two bottoms around my legs. Yeah, if it's going to do this I definitely need to wear different underpants. And maybe I should look into the bodyglide stuff.
  • Quote: I don't think it's too deep. It's long though, so band aids don't work. Last night I put a piece of cloth on it with some band aids holding it on. I think that is what I will try tomorrow. It didn't stay all night but it lasted a while. I had a few friends say they have heard of this happening but they've never had it. I just think it's weird. I've never heard of it either.
    NOOOOO. Jeez, Liquid Band-Aids would hurt so bad.

    I used to get this all the time. In high school I had to go through band camp every year with those sores all over inside my legs. The very very best solution is either baby powder or Vaseline before you go to bed. It is important to let it heal before you try to do anything too active, or it will get worse. And keep it DRY. Seriously, I'm an expert.

    And, most likely this was caused by A) your bare legs rubbing together, B) wearing a rough fabric, or C) ill-fitting underwear. It's definitely worth figuring out and avoiding. Best case scenario, make sure that any fabric that touches it until it heals is as soft as possible.
  • sometimes the skin in such areas can be badly affected by sweat. if your of a cuddly build as i'm sure most of us have been the sweat doesn't drain properly and can be held next to the skin especially if your wearing cotton.

    this then rubs like a wet shirt on yoru nipples (clubbers nipple) and with the wet skin that loses its oil like in the bath it wrinkes and is weaker and can tear.

    i know exactly how it feels its like athelets foot and you don't notice until you in a hot bath. i used to get it behind my ears after rugby practice and after football practice because of the taking my helmet on and off all the time.

    drop the cotton use the cycling shorts shown above. and moisturise to return the skin to how it was.