Whenever I’m in the market for some new gym shorts, I search for pairs that meet two specific criteria: they must be cute, and they can鈥檛 cause thigh chafing. Despite catwalking in fitting rooms and only buying pairs with longer inseams that really look like they won鈥檛 betray me, the ultimate test is wearing them in real life. Inevitably, most of the shorts I purchase creep up my inner thighs like they are aspiring to be underwear, leaving my inner legs exposed, unprotected, and a hazard to themselves. And, yet again, I鈥檓 left wondering how to stop chafing.

In an instance of divine timing (or聽social media listening to my conversations聽1984-style), I recently came across several Instagram reels touting one trick to prevent inner thigh chafing for good. According to women in my Instagram feed, to prevent chafing, all you need to do is swipe deodorant on your inner thighs as you would on your armpits, and voil脿: your legs are protected from the dreaded red patches that plague warm-weather enthusiasts around the world.

Like many things on the internet, this information made me wonder whether it was too good to be true. So I tested it for myself.

Can Natural Deodorants Stop Thigh Chafing? I Tested Three to Find Out.

Luckily, I had three natural deodorants collecting dust in my bathroom vanity. I was waiting for a good time to make the transition from using antiperspirant to natural deodorant on my armpits. There may, in fact, never be a good time. But testing them on my thighs? I could do that right away.

I鈥檝e listed these picks in order of how much I love them. Despite having a clear winner, they each lasted for hours, didn鈥檛 need to be reapplied, and withstood lots of sweating.

1. The Smoothie Deo by Megababe ($11.20)

Founder says she founded when she couldn鈥檛 find other products that worked for her thighs, sweat, and body odor. (Who doesn鈥檛 love a relatable female entrepreneur?)

Did its adorable pink packaging sway me to purchase Megababe? Yes. Although the millennial-friendly branding hooked me, I stayed for the real results. This is my number-one everyday pick for when I want that no-chafe confidence in my favorite shorts.

Plus, this deodorant is free from the following ingredients: aluminum, phthalates, sulfates, baking soda, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. It’s cruelty-free and vegan and smells like a delicious blend of coconut and lime.

2. Cucumber Aloe Deodorant by Tom’s of Maine ($7.99)

I wore on a trip to Florida in June. Despite my profuse sweating from every pore on my body, the deodorant didn鈥檛 dissipate and allowed my thighs to glide against each other without chafing.

This deodorant is not tested on animals and is free of aluminum, artificial colors, parabens, and formaldehyde.

3. Lavender and Sage Deodorant by 厂肠丑尘颈诲迟鈥檚 ($9.99)

I was pretty much sold on when I saw their unique aromas鈥攃oconut and pineapple, cactus flower and pear. Who could turn that down?

Despite the alluring scents, this isn鈥檛 a formula you can quickly rub on skin, as it鈥檚 a bit thicker and chalkier. They recommend warming the stick against your body heat for a few seconds before application, which, in my experience, did help. It left a bit of residue on my thighs that I had to brush off before heading out the door, but the chafe-free effect was in full swing for the several hours I was walking in a dress (with no safety-net biker shorts underneath). I felt like freedom.

This deodorant is free of aluminum, artificial fragrance, filler ingredients, propylene glycol, phthalates, and parabens. It’s cruelty-free and vegan.

What I Learned

After doing this experiment, I realized that my thighs have unique requirements for a deodorant.

1. Scent Isn鈥檛 That Important

Though I sometimes catch a whiff of the scent of my deodorant when I wear it on my armpits, I can鈥檛 smell the deodorant I wear on my thighs. Though I鈥檒l always choose a fun aroma over no aroma, I find it鈥檚 not as important for using the product to prevent thigh chafing. If you are aiming to mask the smell of your sweat, though, this may be a more important factor.

2. The Texture of the Formula Matters

This is important for armpits, yes, but maybe even more so for thighs due to the near-constant friction. I needed the deodorant to be thick enough to last on a long walk, but not so thick that it would cake or become gloopy, requiring me to wipe it away or worry about it.

3. It Definitely Should Not Stain Clothes

No one is delighted when they put on a black shirt and see the streaky remnants of deodorant on their armpits. When I tested deodorant on my thighs, I was diligent in checking and re-checking to see if I had those stains on my shorts. This wasn鈥檛 an issue with any of the natural deodorants I tried, even on black bike shorts.

When I say that using natural deodorant on my inner thighs to stop chafing has changed my life, I mean it. It feels like I鈥檝e ended a long, painful, expensive chapter in my life鈥攂uying shorts, being optimistic I wouldn鈥檛 chafe, being disappointed I do chafe, masking my pain to save face at social outings, giving away said shorts to a donation center, looking for new shorts, rinse and repeat.

All along, the answer to my problem (and my HUGE beef with the shorts industry) was in my bathroom.

Do You Have to Use Natural or Whole-Body Deodorants to Prevent Thigh Chafing?

No. Antiperspirant works for some people, too. 鈥淣atural [deodorant] implies free of chemicals,鈥� says dermatologist . But that doesn鈥檛 mean they鈥檙e safe for everyone. 鈥淚 have seen patients develop reactions to 鈥榥atural鈥� deodorants.鈥�

You鈥檒l want to check the ingredient list and do your research. When in doubt, test your deodorant on a small patch of skin before applying it to larger areas of your body.

Want more聽国产吃瓜黑料聽health stories?聽. Ready to push yourself? Enter MapMyRun鈥檚聽聽running challenge.

The post How to Prevent Your Thighs From Chafing During Workouts appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

You hear the same advice every summer: slather on sunscreen and limit your time in the sun. Those rules still apply, but not everyone is getting the message.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, according to the ; one out of every five people will develop skin cancer before the age of 70. Over the past three decades, skin cancer . Between 2011 and 2019 alone, rates increased by 31.5 percent. What’s behind the rise?

鈥淭he overall increase in skin cancers has to do with cumulative sun exposure combined with lack of adequate sun block or protection from UVA/UVB rays,鈥� says Dr. Ava Shamban, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles, California.

It’s time to get smarter about your sun exposure. Here are five things you need to know about sun exposure, according to a dermatologist, plus tips for enjoying the sun more safely.

1. Wearing Sunscreen Every Day of the Year Is a Must

You may not think about wearing sunscreen when it鈥檚 cloudy or rainy or even during winter. Yet you should. Why?

鈥淭he most harmful ultraviolet rays are present every day,鈥� Shamban says. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 retreat in winter and can filter through dark cloud coverage, which is why any uncovered areas of the body at any time of the year are exposed and vulnerable to the damage of the sun鈥檚 UV rays.鈥�

Dermatologist-approved tips:

• Lather on sunscreen after you shower: make sunscreen application as much a part of your daily routine as brushing your teeth. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB with an SPF of at least 30 and slather it on when you get out of the shower in the morning, as you would lotion.
• Put it on areas likely to be exposed to sunlight: this includes your legs, arms, shoulders, d茅colletage, neck, face, ears, and hands. The also suggests a lip balm with sunscreen. You might even add a hand cream, moisturizer, or makeup with sun protection to your daily routine. These won鈥檛 replace sunscreen but will offer added support for vulnerable areas that are never covered in your reapplication plan, Shamban says.

2. One Bottle of Sunscreen Should Only Last You a Couple of Months

How quickly you go through that sunscreen depends not only on how big the bottle is but also on how well you鈥檙e applying it. In general, though, aim to go through at least one bottle during the summer, more if you鈥檙e sharing that bottle with others. If your bottle lingers, it鈥檚 a sign you鈥檙e probably not using enough.

Dermatologist-approved tips:

• Measure one ounce of sunscreen: The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying an ounce of sunscreen to your face and body. That鈥檚 about the size of a shot glass; for easy reference, keep a shot glass in your bathroom to help you measure it, Shamban says.
• Don’t skip your face: Your face alone should get a nickel-sized amount, says Dr. Adele Haimovic, a dermatologist based in New York. You should then reapply every two hours, she says.
• Don’t use expired sunscreen: Just watch those expiration dates, as sunscreen breaks down over time. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen people who have gotten burns because they used expired sunscreen,鈥� she adds. Once a year, go through all your sunscreens and toss any that have expired.

3. Skin Cancer Around the Eyes Is More Common Than You Think

Although any exposed skin may be prone to developing skin cancer, the skin around your eyes is particularly vulnerable because it鈥檚 thin and delicate, Shamban says. Roughly five to 10 percent of all basal cell carcinomas occur on the eyelids.

Dermatologist-approved tips:

• Wear polarized sunglasses: While you should always wear sun-protective eyewear when outdoors, choose a darker, polarized lens rated for ultraviolet protection; most sunglasses don鈥檛 have enough UV protection alone.
• Toss on a hat: If you don’t have polarized glasses, opt for a wide-brimmed hat that gives you at least three inches of shade. You can also use an umbrella to limit sun exposure.
• Consider alternative sun care products: Sunscreen is crucial, but if it bothers your eyes and causes a stinging sensation, use a mineral version, one containing zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, Haimovic says. You can also try a fragrance-free sunscreen for sensitive skin. Alternatively, use a protective powder with an SPF rating for your eyelids; try a stick formula or one with a 鈥渄oe foot鈥� applicator, which allows more precise application versus your finger, Shamban says. A broad-based sun-protection eye cream will also do the trick.

4. UV Light Can Penetrate Through Windows

Being by windows can give your mental health a boost, but know that those windows, whether in your home, office, or car, will expose you to harmful UV rays. There are two types of rays鈥擴VA and UVB鈥攁nd each one affects the skin differently. UVB rays are the classic burning rays, the most common cause of sunburns and the type most associated with skin cancer, says Haimovic.

Meanwhile, although UVA rays can cause sun damage and also lead to skin cancer, they鈥檙e associated more with aging, and it鈥檚 these rays that penetrate more through windows. 鈥淢ost glass does not protect against UVA exposure,鈥� Shamban says, adding that while some of the UVB rays get through, all of the UVA rays do. That鈥檚 one reason year-round sunscreen is so critical on exposed parts of your body.

Dermatologist-approved tips:

• Buy UV protection shields for car windows.
• Clothing can even add another layer of protection.
• Look for detergents that wash sun protection into your clothing.

5. Training 国产吃瓜黑料 Increases Skin Cancer Risk

While this may be a no-brainer, it鈥檚 worth repeating: if you鈥檙e logging the miles outside, you鈥檙e at an increased risk of skin cancer.

• Reapply often: because you’re sweating so much sunscreen off, you聽 ‘ll need to reapply more frequently if you’re training outside.
• Avoid the brightest times of the day: plan your workouts so you鈥檙e not outside when the rays are at their strongest, generally between 10 am and 4 pm.

Bottom line? 鈥淓ven if the sun doesn鈥檛 shine, it鈥檚 not a free pass from sun protection,鈥� Shamban says. 鈥淯ltraviolet rays don鈥檛 take a vacation, and skin cancer knows no season.鈥�

Want more 国产吃瓜黑料聽health stories?聽.

The post What You Need to Know About Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.