During the summer season, in tropical countries such as India, skin irritations, boils and itchy rashes occur. Travelling and spending long hours in uncomfortable clothes can become cumbersome, especially in humid areas, and may lead to serious chafing. Chafing is caused by increased friction from skin-onskin or skin-on-fabric contact and is frequently accompanied by rashes, pain and a stinging or burning sensation.
The effects are adverse during summer because the skin traps

more moisture through excessive sweating. (Wet skin can lead to chafing.) However, this is not a serious medical problem and it can be easily prevented.
Chafing can often be caused by wearing ill-fitting clothes. Chafing is more common among people who do intense workouts, owing to the frequent rubbing of the skin on garments.
Many people take the problem lightly or trivialise it. Some of them notice chafing when they take a bath, as the chafed skin stings. If ignored, chafing may

Bhavan's Journal May 15, 2022∎ 74