Rubbing iron skin - causes, symptoms and tips

You wake up AM , the sun is shining into your bedroom and the city smells like summer. You really want to wear your favorite summer dress or short T-shirt. But something is stopping you and I know that many of us are familiar with this problem - chafed skin. It usually manifests itself in small red or white pustules on the upper arms, but also on the legs or bottom. This little supposed "blemish" is particularly annoying in summer because we would love to show a little more skin. That's why I want to explain to you in this article how chafed skin develops and, above all, what you can do about it!

But first, I’d also like to say: Put on that dress! Put on that short-sleeved T-shirt—and the skirt, of course! Do it! Despite the spots. Because it’s nothing bad, nothing contagious, and certainly nothing that should or can diminish your worth or your sense of well-being. This is purely an aesthetic issue, and since we’re already working on accepting ourselves just as we are, maybe this is a good place to start? Besides, for many people, stretch marks disappear on their own as they get older. So getting older does have its advantages after all!

But of course I understand you. Chafing skin is annoying and yes, as a sufferer you may sometimes think to yourself "How unfair, why do I have to have this?". At least I know this feeling very well. However, one thing in particular helps with some things: acceptance! But also following a few simple tips to take some of the "rubbing iron" off your skin.

What is chafing skin? Keratosis Pilaris - The permanent goose bumps

Rubbing iron skin is also known as keratosis pilaris or hyperkeratosis pilaris. It mainly occurs in women, but can also affect men.

Keratosis is the technical term for any type of keratinization disorder. More precisely, hyperkeratosis is a thickening and thus a keratinization disorder of the outermost skin layer, the stratum corneum. The skin produces too much Keratin!

This keratinization mainly affects the hair follicles, which become keratinized from the inside, so to speak, and then clog up. The annoying skin nodules or small horny cones form. As already mentioned, the areas affected are the extensor sides of the upper arms (outside) and thighs (front), cheeks and also the buttocks.

Keratin always plays an important role in our body. As a component of the stratum corneum, it gives our skin stability and is also the basic building block for hair and nails. However, as with almost everything, "too much" is bad for us.

The result is rough, uneven, red patches on the skin that can also become inflamed. The skin barrier is damaged and bacteria can penetrate more easily. These areas are often hairless and look like goose bumps to the naked eye. Unfortunately, the skin irritation does not disappear with a little warmth.

The cornification disorder often occurs for the first time in childhood and adolescence. Over the years, however, it can disappear again by itself with the right care. As I have already mentioned, keratosis pilaris is only described as a cosmetic problem and is not considered a dermatological disease! Nevertheless, those affected can suffer greatly, which is why this topic is very important to me.

How do I recognize chafing skin?

Here is a compact summary:

Very rough, hairless areas

Small red or white bumps or horny cones on the skin

Frequently affected areas are the face, upper arms, thighs and buttocks

Natural skin barrier is impaired, which can lead to inflammation

Can occur as an accompanying syndrome in dry skin or allergic diseases

Deterioration of the skin condition in the winter months with low humidity - improvement in the sunny summer months

Example of chafed skin

If the affected areas continue to expand or the inflammation does not subside, I would definitely advise you to see a dermatologist!

Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for chafed skin. If you have one, please let me know! :)

However, with the right skincare, you can definitely bring about an improvement, even out the skin somewhat and help yourself to feel more comfortable in your skin.

What can I do about chafed skin? 4 tips for smooth and soft skin

1. first things first - the right cleanser

Use mild surfactants or oils to Cleanse your skin thoroughly but very gently. We recommend our junglück Cleansing Oil and the junglück shower gel. It removes dirt and excess sebum without drying out your skin. Also be careful not to use water that is too hot, as this also puts a lot of stress on your skin. You often have the urge to intensively scrub or scratch the affected rough areas - but be careful, this can leave unsightly scars. This is also the reason why I advise you not to use mechanical exfoliators, as they can also damage your skin and leave marks. Let's try tip 2 instead.

2. chemical peelings

Salicylic Acid in particular, which belongs to the beta hydroxy acids (BHA), frees your skin from dead skin cells and cleanses it from the inside out. The BHA peeling apply 2-3 times a week PM after the cleanser . You canapply it like a serum and allow it to absorb well overnight. If your skin feels tight after application, you can apply your usual skincare afterwards. And don't forget the UV protection!

With our Clay Mask you can gently remove dead skin cells from your skin. It also regulates sebum production and has an anti-inflammatory effect, which soothes your skin and reduces chapped skin. For an extra peeling, you can leave-on the mask leave-on again with moistened hands after the application time.

3. moisture and lipids for noticeably soft skin

Regular application of moisturizing lotions, creams or gels is essential to soothe chafed skin. It is important that the formulations used are skin-dissolving, hydrating and moisturizing. Actives such as urea or hyaluronic acid bind a lot of moisture, nourish your skin and make it supple. Aloe vera also has a cooling and anti-inflammatory effect. I would try to avoid fragrances or colorants, as these can further irritate the rough areas. I would definitely recommend Moisturize the affected areas daily, if not twice a day. However, PM is particularly important so that your skin has enough time to absorb the nutrients overnight. The following products from our range are therefore well suited: Face: Hyaluronic Concentrate, Aloe Vera gel Body: Aloe Vera gel, body lotion Also our Retinal cream can also provide valuable support with its regenerating effect. Do you like to use oils? Then the following are suitable, for example Argan Oil or Jojoba Oil with a high vitamin E content. They Treat anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and thus counteract impurities. This can also be beneficial for chapped skin.

My very personal tip: I apply PM (after the cleanser) the BHA peeling onto the affected areas and allow it to absorb well. I then mix a pump of the aloe vera gel with approx. 4-5 drops Jojoba Oil in my hands. I noticed a clear improvement after a few days. However, here too, perseverance is key! Because, as is so often the case, it's not enough to apply the cream once; chafed skin requires regular care. Until it eventually (hopefully) goes away on its own!

4. nutrition

If you are looking for possible support to combat chafed skin, the term healthy eating often comes up! As with many skin health issues, it is extremely important to avoid potential allergy triggers such as gluten. A food intolerance test at the doctor's can be very informative. You should not only consume many important vitamins and nutrients through your skin, but also through your diet. You should also drink plenty of water and, of course, avoid stress as much as possible. Eat a healthy diet and be good to your body, because your skin will thank you for it! If you read my blog post from last week, you will see some parallels. But that's the way it is when everything is connected in the wonderfully complex body system! :)

And now to the conclusion

Chafing skin is not dangerous, contagious or necessarily painful, but it can have an unpleasant effect on your daily life. There are tips and tricks to reduce it, but the most important thing here is to accept yourself as you are. Try our tips, pay attention to regular care and get your quality of life back.

Feel free to share your experiences with me!

Take care.