Rubbing can cause minor skin irritation and inflammation. If you rub too vigorously or use an abrasive material, you could damage the outer layer of your skin, resulting in redness, swelling, itching and even infection. In some cases, rubbing can also lead to contact dermatitis (an itchy rash) if you're allergic to certain substances such as soap or detergent. It's important to be careful when rubbing your skin so that you don't irritate it further or make any existing conditions worse. Additionally, if a wound is rubbed excessively it can delay healing time.