How To Take Care Of Your Fat Body - Fat Hygiene
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This post was originally published on Comfyfat.com. For those of you that don't know, J (the owner of Comfyfat.com) is my incredible partner. Their blog focuses on in depth topics around fat accessibility and the intersections of gender and fatness. It's an incredible resource and you should definitely check them out on their blog and on instagram!
Getting Down To The Nitty Gritty
Lets talk about fat hygiene. Embarrassing, right? I know! These are the kinds of topics that we like to keep private. Especially us fat folks who have learned to be ashamed of our bodies and the extra care they may require. But if we don’t talk about this and share our resources, how will we ever know what works best?
No more suffering in silence babes. I’ve been scoping out some hygiene products that my fat friends swear by. Here’s a list of must haves for fat hygiene:
Remedy Soap
Skin irritation caused by folds on our bodies is a total bitch. It can be itchy, odorous, and look sorta funny. Remedy Anti-Fungal Soap is made with natural ingredients like tea tree oil, mint, and Aloe Vera which work wonders for healing skin. You don’t have to worry about synthetic chemicals and such, so feel free to use this regularly on your whole body. Side note – if you’re not into feeling like you have a York Peppermint Patty lodged between your vulva (or other sensitive areas), perhaps avoid using this all up in your nether region.
Bathroom Hardware
Detachable shower heads are so great. Its important to be able to lift those rolls and scrub that body clean without leftover soap remnants which can cause skin irritation. Sick of cupping your hands and aimlessly splashing water in the general direction of your sweatiest parts? Wash it all away with full force and direct precision. You’re going to feel the cleanest you’ve ever felt.
I can’t describe how wonderful it felt to finally have a shower with a curved shower rod installed in my home. It can be so frustrating to have the shower curtain constantly stuck to your arms and body the whole time, in the most vulnerable moments! Having one of these curved shower rods makes my shower experience feel so much more comfortable. It can add up to 6 inches of room!
This one might not seem as obvious but I swear by it. A corner shower caddy helps organize all of the shit you like to clean yourself with into one space. Why is this helpful? Well if you’re like me and enjoy having options for shower products, you might notice them all piling up on the wall of the tub after a while. I dread those bottles toppling onto my toes because I just needed to lift my leg over the tub wall for a moment. Corner shower caddies really help organize an area where any extra space is a blessing.
Look I'm not exaggerating when I say, bidet attachments ARE LIFE CHANGING! I’ve heard numerous people now tell me that bidet attachments are the best additions they’ve made to their bathrooms and I absolutely agree. Corissa teases that now when we go on vacation the first thing we miss is not our dogs or our family... it's our bidet. This product can turn any standard two piece toilet into a functional butt flusher. To get that extra clean feel and spend less on toilet paper every month, try out one of these bad boys.
Wipes
Sometimes its hard to reach! Bathroom wipes are getting increasingly popular in all kinds of households. You’re going to want something biodegradable and safe for septic systems. I find that Dude Wipes work the best for me and my fat ass. They’re fragrance free so I feel comfortable using them all over my body when I need to freshen up real quick. They’re also bigger in size which I find helpful. So, if you can move past the overt toxic masculinity involved in the marketing, they work really well. Important: wipes aren't generally great for the environment even when they say they're biodegradable. Bidet's will save you so much money and the earth will thank you. But wipes are great when you're traveling!
Long Handled Products
Listen, no doubt our fat bodies are bigger than thin bodies. If you’re like me and that also happens to be paired with a couple of short arms, it can be difficult to reach areas that we would like to give an extra scrub. Thankfully you can find all kinds of long handled products out there like loofah’s, sponges, toe nail scissors, and even razor extension handles. My partner especially loves the super long washcloth shown above that you can shimmy around your body for a great clean.
Foot Scrubber
This hands free foot scrubber allows you to exfoliate your feet in the shower. It increases blood circulation and helps massage your feet which can feel really great after a long day on your tootsies. Toss some body wash in there to feel extra clean!
Natural Deodorant
Deodorant creates a barrier of film that seems to stop sweat from festering on your skin within the folds. Lift your rolls up and rub that shit right on in there. Try Crystal Essence if you’re concerned about putting products with aluminum under your belly and breasts. It’s natural, comes in various scents or fragrance free, and has a roll-on option which I highly suggest for easier accessibility to those hard to reach areas.
There are also spray versions that can help get in those hard to reach places!
USB Phone Fan
Summertime sweatiness bummin' you out? Look at these cute little guys! These USB powered fans plug directly into your phone and run off of your phone battery. Feeling sweaty in a super inconvenient kinda way? Plug this baby right in and start cooling down. Its great because you totally have your phone on you at all times anyway.
Liners
These bra liners are genius! The boob sweat situation is real my friends. Tuck these under your bra on those potentially extra sweaty days. They’re machine washable! They also have disposable ones if you’re more into that sort of thing.
And guess what? They also have tummy liners for us folks who have rolls that tend to get irritated in the hot weather. Say goodbye to skin irritation and rashes this summer!
Are there other hygiene needs that you have that weren't addressed in this post? Let us know in the comments below! Over on Comfyfat.com you can read about accessibility tools for gardening, outdoor sports, talking to your doctor, and lots more!
Best body powder ... Fromunda powder. Yes it has a horriable name and is marketed for men, but don't let that keep you from trying it. It's talc free, and they have an unsented version. It is a little pricey compared to using drugstore products. But so incredibly worth it. I live in the south, we have extremely hot and humid summers. I use to have major issues with heat rash under my boobs and belly roll. Haven't had a single issue since I found this.
I have never heard of this I'm going to have to give it a try!
Wow! This topic is not easy to find but you KNOW every voluptuous girl has this issue! My OB/GYN told me that I should be using lotion instead of powder. It didn’t make sense to me. So I then began my journey of everything on the market…all kinds of powders, baby diaper creams and lotions. I am here to tell you, I found the cure. It is Bag Balm. Can you believe it? Bag Balm! I live in NH and we just had a 110 day long heat wave. Not one rash. Just soft skin. Also, it doesn’t ball up like powder and get all over everything. It works amazingly well.
I'm hoping someone here might know a product...
I'm a fat femme person, and I'd like to wear skirts in public in the summer. But I've got sweaty thighs (to the point where I always worry about leaving little puddles / damp marks on chairs when I get up). I'm terrified of having awkward visible sweat stains on the back of the skirt. So I wear jeans and long tops, and I suffer when it's hot and humid.
I've got good lightweight "chub rub" shorts. I've got skirts. I just feel like I need some kind of slip or liner that can wick the worst of the sweat away, or block it, or ??
Any ideas?
xo
I have the same problem too! I wear dresses and skirts all the time and always worry about the dreaded sweat mark when I get up and the even more embarrassing sweat drip. You’re not alone. Any ideas would be awesome!
@Crackingfoxy,
I know Monistat has a chafing relief gel.
@Heather, best solution I've found is wearing cotton or linen clothes, also blends without any polyester or plastic type fabric help a lot. The only poly I wear is if it's something very lightweight, thin material, gauzy, flowy. Polyester can also make your B.O. worse. Also avoid anything marketed as moisture wicking, the clothes don't look sweaty bc they don't absorb the sweat but you end up leaving wet spots because the sweat has to go somewhere. I prefer to get darker clothing if it's tight fit. I ended up buying about 10 pairs of linen-rayon blend shorts-the fabric absorbs the sweat and the heat dries the moisture fairly quickly. If I want to wear a short dress or skirt I use thin cotton briefs to wear under it. Does make me hotter though. Guess you can't win them all? But I'm somewhere around 3xl I'm not sure if it would work for people heavier than me.
I’ve been thin my whole life until about 3 years ago. I think my weight issues are genetic because my mom packed on weight at the same age. Well here I am all uninformed on pretty much everything from shopping for nice clothes to (I live in the south too) trying to fight the odors that seems to develop somewhere between my shower and the next 2 hours. I’m a clean person and I cannot stand to smell bad but I go to the grocery store and come home smelling like I’ve been sweating at the gym for 48 hours. I just don’t get it. I feel super uncontrollable in public and my self esteem has become nonexistent. I can’t find clothes that fit well and look good... I see so many beautiful bigger ladies and wander where they learned to put together the right outfits and makeup is on point and just well put together but I look I never learned to dress myself. They’re Melissa McCarthy ( gorgeous) and I’m the weird lady eating two combo meals at the dmv... I can’t lose weight so I’ve gotta learn new ways. I don’t mean to offend anyone if I have I just really need help 🙁
Hey Mary, it can be really hard when our bodies change suddenly (or even slowly). You're in the right place, and there are lots of resources here. If you have facebook you can also follow the conversations we have over there at facebook.com/fatgirlflowblog. This community is really wonderful and there are lots of people/resources there to help!
Thank you. I will look y’all up on FB! ☺️
@Mary,
You might try Catherine’s. Their sizes run from 0x to 5x and run slightly larger then the same sizes you might find in other stores. For instance, their 2x would correspond to a 3x in certain other department stores. You can probably check their website to find out if they have any stores near where you live. They carry everything from dressy clothes to jeans and t-shirts, bathing suits (seasonally), pajamas (really comfortable) and some dresses, jewelry, and of course bras and underwear and some shoes and in the wintertime some coats. Hope this helps!
@Mary, Hi it’s a year later and I hope you were able to find clothes in the bigger department that look nice. If not I have a few suggestions; Torrid, Ashley Stuart, Lane Bryant, Ross and Rainbow. These stores are very reasonably priced and the workers will help you put together really nice outfits..
Hi Mary, I know you posted this a long time ago. I hope you are doing better! I just wanted to tell you about Torrid. They have some awesome plus size clothes all the way up to like 5x. I know how hard it is to find plus size clothes that aren't "grandma" looking . Torrid has a very modern style and something for everyone. I used to shop at Lane Bryant but their styles became to frumpy for me. So I'm glad I've found torrid. Yes they can be pricy but they also have amazing sales. That's when I do most of my shopping. Anyway, I hope that helps. Keep your head up.
Thank you so much for your this great information! My sweet, beautiful, fat niece is struggling with coming of age hygiene. Her parents have their own fat stigmas and I’m working, along with my parents (niece’s grandparents), to build her up and not feel like fat is is a bad word. Trouble is, I’m little and don’t have personal perspective on hygiene. Can you recommend any books for young (she’s 10) fat women? We want her to feel healthy and clean and beautiful and comfortable in her skin! I’m totally open to any advice you have for me, our family, my niece, resources.. and to pay you for a consult!
Thank you so much,
Mokey
@Mokey, I struggled very much at that age especially. If Embrace is still on Netflix, watch it together!!!!!
A product to add!
It’s made by Monistat, the same company treating yeast infections and such, but this is not that!
It’s their Chafing relief powder/ anti chafing gel, and it’s great.
Use it to avoid dreaded chub rub and especially under a pannus (tummy flap) to help keep it dry under there without feeding yeast (as powders can). A little goes a long way.
Under a sweaty pannus: lift and cleanse in the shower like described with your product suggestions, then lift and pat dry, even use a cool hair dryer under there when you’re done to get dry. Then apply a thin layer of the gel. Genius! No more smelly rash of panniculitis.
I’ve treated many patients with this method and had them return to hug me in tears, because it works! A must traveling to places like Florida.
yes!!!! great suggestions!
@Suz, thank you! I just asked a question/comment about something I could use for this.
Under Swimmies have saved my world! They are not shapewear, just a nice soft pair of thin lingerie shorts to go under a skirt or dress to avoid the chub rub. I am in the South and I do not want hot rolly shapewear. I didn't notice as much sweating, but would add some talc beneath, etc. I love them!
oh I am going to check these out!!!
@Christine, I can’t find them, what are they called, google is only showing diapers and pads
@Cybelle, any sort of form fitting bike shorts should work. I would NEVER wear a dress or skirt without shorts underneath. No amount of powder or anti-chafing gel is enough protection or comfort IMO. For more casual wear, when I don’t care about compression or shaping, I just use light cotton shorts. I’ve had good luck on Amazon and Old Navy.
OMG!!! I recently read this post and decided to try the Remedy soap and it has been LIFE CHANGING. I can't wait to see how it does this summer when I really start to sweat! Next on my list are the foot scrubber and the tummy/bra liners!
i'm so happy it's been helpful!!!!
I get yeast infections On my neck. With or without shoulder length hair. I do have a prescription anti fungal for when I get it, but any ideas on how to stop it from happening?
Hi Marcia, have you considered changing your shampoo/conditioner? Sometimes those things can have an effect on our necks. I like nizoral shampoo!
I am SO trying that remedy soap!!! I dealt with the absolute worst infection on the back of my knee where I have a hanging fold last year. It started as a yeast infection in the folds, progressed to a full on staph AND strep infection and took over 3 months to heal after developing an open wound. It was HORRIBLE, and I’ve been so conscious of my skin care since then to avoid a repeat. Something that just keeps the bacteria at bay should go great with my obsessive drying habits after I shower. Thank you for discussing uncomfortable but real topics!!!
Thank you for your blog! I found several products and have already ordered them. You provide a great service to us overweight people!
Any suggestions for preventing UTI? I experience frequent UTI- my round shape is hard to clean but additionally when I shower I have to bend over to rinse which causes the water flow to send the bacteria where it should not. I have heard that use of a bidet also increases risk of UTI.
@Heather, things that blast water from back to front could send bacteria into the wrong areas and cause UTI. A hand held water bottle that you apply from the front so that water direction moves from front to back would probably be a safer choice for the toilet. The detachable shower nozzle would serve this purpose while bathing.
This is an amazing blog that I will use to help my dad!! Thank you
I have been very heavy for a few years now, but I’m the past few months it’s gotten to the point where I am struggling with mobility issues in keeping myself clean. I’ve been so ashamed, but right now I’m feeling less alone. I truly, honestly, whole heartedly appreciate your work!!!
Glad to find your site. Looking for pantyliners for sneezing and getting out of chairs. This grandma is 74.
Hi... I’m so excited to see these products and know your site is Really Real! Looking forward to checking out your advice and product referrals ,
I have a chronic skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa. It settles into places where there are folds and where it is damp. I want/need to walk as exercise, but the irritation in my "groin" area, between my legs and my stomach apron, is bad. Is there any way to protect that area from irritation? Can't use talcum powder anymore.
@KG, I use Desitin diaper rash cream to clear up those areas
@KG, I find the product “Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel” really effective at keep down chafing between my thighs when I’m wearing a skirt. If you Google “chub rub” you’ll find other products recommended too, but I stick to what I know.
But if the pain is from HS, I’m not sure that stuff will help. It should lower friction, but if you’ve got a tender bump, I know first hand that’s going to hurt like crazy, even if there isn’t chafing against it.
I haven’t found a solution for that yet, unfortunately. Some people swear by putting Vicks Vaporub on unbroken bumps, I’m not sure if it helped me. Some people like Manuka honey on open bumps. I’ve found hydrocolloid bandages (without honey) can help on small/medium draining bumps, you can buy the bandages online and cut them to size.
My case varies between mild to moderate, I would say my most effective treatments have been going on birth control, and eating less dairy, but it’s personal, and not helpful when you currently have a flare up. I’m wishing you all the luck, I know it sucks.
(I actually found this site by googling HS & bidet - mine is in that area, and I wondered if anyone has found a bidet helpful. I might try it.)
Hi! Wondering how y’all use powder? Lol. I’m new to it and wanted to give it a try, but do you wait until you are dry to dust yourself? Damp? I’d think it would get funky (like dough) if you did it wet? Let me know! Thank you 🙂
@Michelle, personally, I swear by Gold Bond Medicated Powder. I put it on when I am totally dry (you are right, otherwise it gets caked) and it keeps the area under my tummy drier. It helps alot with rashes (it produces a cold, tingly feeling for the first few minutes). I've not tried other powders so I can't speak to those.
@Michelle, Hi! I recommend drying off completely first. I like to use a towel and then a small fan or hair dryer.Then apply powder.
I prefer the Felce Azzura powder, you can get it from Walmart online. Nice clean scent and feels luxurious.
@Ruthie,
Yayus in the Gold Bond!!!!
It is a pain to have to dry the area thoroughly, but a soft cotton bath sheet (super large towel) after a shower, or a soft wash cloth (bamboo washcloth rocks if you find one on sale!) after a quick wash up to dry then powder up! It is both curative and preventative for fungus/yeast. Been using it for three years now.
@Michelle, I only use Cornstarch babypowder . And only when I’m very dry after a shower in the folds. Talc powder is dangerous for females.
FatGuy here. Great site, just what I needed.
I have a toilet seat height extender due to knee surgeries. Do you think the bidet attachment would work?
Been suffering with horrible rash under my apron belly. I finally broached the subject with my pharmacist and she told me it was a yeast infection. She told me to use store brand of Lamasil, just started yesterday.
Could you recommend a hygiene procedure? I ordered the Remedy Soap. How would I use the Monistat anti-chafing gel?
You are a God-send
Greg
Hi Greg! Using a barrier method in between showers can help a LOT. I like using mega babe anti chafe stick under my belly and it helps keep any rash and irritation at bay
@Greg, I use vinegar in the summer to stay from any issues. So, once that clears up, you might want to give that a go. Just put some on a rag and wipe clean the area. You can even make your own vinegar wipes by taking a paper towel roll, removing the middle cardboard, putting the towels, as they are, into a gallon size ziplock bag, and pouring a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar directly into the towels. Two cups worth should do it, unless you live someplace dry, like AZ, then try three cups. The moist wipes will allow you to stay clean between showers. I use them on my apron belly, under my breasts, and other creases and bits. Works great. The only drawback is the smell, so you might want to try adding some essential oils. Tea tree oil is a great add to it. It smells great, and it is antiseptic.
@Greg, I use babypowder with cornstarch to keep the rashes away but if I do get one I use any yeast cream but I alway put something dry between the layers . Cream on cream can cause even worse issues. So i will put the cream on and get strong soft tissue between the layer and it’s usually gone in a few days . Just sure its a yeast infect not a skin infection. The yeast ones can be very itchy.
@Greg, I bought a Aquas bidet sprayer that is so easy to install. You attach the sprayer to the water line and it hangs on the side. I have it in each of my bathrooms. I also carry a battery operated bidet sprayer when I am not at home. As for as the rash under the folds I have a great powder that works fantastic and it smells fresh and not "perfumy" or "mediciny". It was recommended to me from a Wound Nurse. Its from Medline Remedy - Phytoplex Antifungal Powder with 2% Miconazole Nitrate. Its organic and the whole line is fantastic and has helped me so much.
I was ashamed to even google how obese women keep clean. I find this site informative. I see that I am not alone. I love my body but I don't feel as fresh as I want. So, thanks.
What do people use at the top of the legs/groin where underwear sits and it all rubs together? I am having trouble with that area. I used to use powder, but had too much trouble getting the area dry before applying the powder, so switched to large amounts of unscented lotion. It works well, but it feels a bit odd having it all ‘goey’ up there all day. If that makes sense to anyone?! I had a physical therapy appointment and the therapist had to reach in that area to work on a muscle and I was so embarrassed and mortified she touched this slimy mess. Ugh! lol
@Sabrina, I have always sprayed Dove deodorant in those areas. Something with an antiperspirant in it helps to keep it dry. I always carry a trial size with me to refresh. Also, there are brands out there for regular excessive sweating of pits, hands,feet etc., that usually have deodorant wipes that you put on at before bed(to give it time to work) that last quite a few days. My daughter said they work great and are unscented. Hope this helps you a little bit.
@Teri, thank you so much! I’ve been worried about using deodorant there but I will try it out. I shower daily but if don’t use something I would end up with that dreaded funky smelly yeast. I take it you have to be completely dry before adding that? That’s why I have ended up using moisturizer since I didn’t have to use a hairdryer to get dry first.
@Sabrina, vagasil makes an excellent chaffing gel that is lightweight and feels silky
@Sabrina, I find that the boy shorts style of underwear are more comfortable because there's no leg band right up there in your business. Also, try a blow dryer on low to get the area dry. Hope that helps!
@Crystal Carden, thank you!! <3