Training & Nutrition - Saddle Sore Treatment?

Great way to start the off season! 2 weeks on the trainer and alll I got was this boil??? Is rest/time off the bike the best way to deal with saddle sores? Any specail ointments or potions? Any tips appreciated.
It is small and not too painful right now and that is how I would like to keep it.

Remove your seatpost and try a few sessions of "standing" only on your trainer. This will help get rid of the saddle sore AND strengthen your out of the saddle riding muscle groups. Or, stop using the trainer and try using a Versa-Climber.

As far as treating it, keep it clean and dry. An AB and or AB creme will also keep it from getting infected.

Prescription antibiotics

A good dermatologist will have that cleared-up for you nearly instantly.

In the future, whenever you shower, wash your crotch with dandruff shampoo, leaving it on for 5 minutes or as recommended, shower immediately when you finish a training session, and never use the same shorts twice without laundering. Makes a big difference in frequency of occurrence. For now, apply anti-bacterial ointment as often as you can manage it. I never found doctors to be the slightest use with saddle sores, other than the fairly satisfying "Omigod" remark they usually make.

Zinc oxide cream ... found in most baby departments. Also known as diaper rash cream. It works!


Incidentally the dandruff shampoo Carbonfiberboy mentions also has zinc oxide in it, so I could see how that would work too. But right now you probably need an application of the cream.

Tea tree oil to dry it up and Bag Balm as an antiseptic.

FYI: You shouldn't get sores.

The time and money to find the right fit, saddle, and shorts are well worth it. Since finding mine, I have never gotten a sore.

my remedy is just to use a lot of soap on the area in the shower to dry it out. twice a day.

prevent them in the future by using chamois cream and clean, dry shorts.

I used Neosporin and stayed off the bike. I can't say it worked faster but it worked.

zinc oxide helps as well as bag balm

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Exacto_knife.jpg/800px-Exacto_knife.jpg

Once you have gotten rid of the boil use Bag Balm on your crotch before each ride; when finished riding, wash very well as soon as possible; then apply rubbing alcohol to the crotch. If you follow this religiously, you will never have this problem again.

Once you have gotten rid of the boil use Bag Balm on your crotch before each ride; when finished riding, wash very well as soon as possible; then apply rubbing alcohol to the crotch. If you follow this religiously, you will never have this problem again.

Or you could just get the right saddle, shorts, and fit.


(I'm not sure why this concept is so difficult for so many?)

Or you could just get the right saddle, shorts, and fit.


(I'm not sure why this concept is so difficult for so many?)'Cause there are two different kinds of saddle sores. The kind you're talking about are the worst. They seem to originate as a lump deep in the tissue and then get angry. They are caused by pressure and rubbing and aggravated by bacteria. But one can also get plain old simple infections of hair follicles or pores. There are a lot of bacteria down there, and not all of them are friendly. Hell, I get pimples on my nose, even though I never push it that hard! Those same pimples in another place would make me much more unhappy.

'Cause there are two different kinds of saddle sores. The kind you're talking about are the worst. They seem to originate as a lump deep in the tissue and then get angry. They are caused by pressure and rubbing and aggravated by bacteria. But one can also get plain old simple infections of hair follicles or pores. There are a lot of bacteria down there, and not all of them are friendly. Hell, I get pimples on my nose, even though I never push it that hard! Those same pimples in another place would make me much more unhappy.

From what I understand, there are basically two kinds of "saddle sores".

One is caused by chafing. The chafing removes a layer or two or more of skin until there is an open wound. This is the only kind of saddle sore I have ever had, and it was caused by riding a long distance in the pouring rain with ill-fitting shorts and a gel saddle. I was asking for that one!

These can be prevented by having a bicycle that fits, a good saddle, and shorts that work for you. A tiny dab of something like Ozonol can also help prevent them when it is wet or very hot (sweaty).

The second kind starts as a pimple (or pimple-like thing) and then gets significantly worse ... perhaps developing into a boil. In the 17 years I've been cycling (115,000 kms) I have never had this kind of saddle sore. Sure, I get rashes and pimples during long rides (and especially long, hot rides), but as mentioned above, a shower and an application or two of zinc oxide cream takes care of that.

Cleanliness and hygene go a long way to preventing these types of saddle sores. It helps to wash the affected area well every time you shower. It also helps to wash yourself during the ride ... if you're on a long ride (and especially a hot ride) stop in at a gas station or convenience store and wash the area with water and a paper towel. Make sure you dry the area well so that you don't experience chafing. If you don't have access to toilet facilities with running water, you can clean yourself periodically with baby wipes. Doing these things during your ride will unclog your pores, and clean off the salt build-up from sweat.

If you do happen to have a pimple that is threatening to become worse, and you're in the middle of your ride, applying a dab of Ozonol can help prevent it from getting worse.

I always carry baby wipes and Ozonol on my rides. :)

They are caused by pressure and rubbing...

right saddle, shorts, and fit will eliminate that.

I used to get a little bit of rashes and sores and someone told me that I didn't have to get them and I didn't need cream.

After thousands of miles since, I have not had one single rash, irritation or sore.

You don't have to get them and you don't have to use cream.

1/2 neosporin and 1/2 A&D ointment or creamy. the neosporin part for the obvious reasons and the A&D for emolliency and moisture. I don't like recommending ZincOxide too much, especially initially. Zinc Oxide is a complete skin barrier. (see lifeguards noses, etc) This is used as a preventitive. One generally does not want to seal damaged skin. Desitin (ZnOx) for baby's is used as a preventative, not as a curative.

Tea tree oil to dry it up and Bag Balm as an antiseptic.

Bag Balm is not an antiseptic. It is essentially lanolin fats, and is intended mostly for use on animals. The best treatment available over the counter is Antiseptic Healing Ointment (http://www.bravesoldier.com/antiseptic-healing-ointment.php) by Brave Soldier (http://www.bravesoldier.com). The product was developed specifically for road rash and saddle sore treatment. Its active ingredients are Lidocaine which relieves the pain and Chloroxylenol, which is a true antiseptic as defined by the FDA. Its inactive ingredients include tea tree oil among many other natural oils that also aid the healing process. It works faster than neosporin or anything else I have found for that matter. Happy riding! :thumb:

I guess there could be more kind of sores than one. But my study of the issue points to local skin area becoming infected by bacteria -most often but not always at a hair follicle. Now understand that if an infection grows large, that the body will wall it off by creating a cyst. This area can then become reinfected - and I think that is what happens when people talk about "deep down" pimples.

Anyway - I ride a lot - and I ride in crappy shorts all the time. The thing I think that has helped me the most is clipping excess hair off the contact area. (not shaving, clipping) And of course - you do have keep clean.

I haven't had many sore for the past ten years - but the one or two times I did get them - I soak, I pop them as soon as I can and put a piece duct tape over the area. I haven't a pimple get bad enough to spoil a ride for over 30 year so I must be doing something right. But I remember a long time ago and know they can be a mmmmffff er - can I say that?

Bag Balm is not an antiseptic. It is essentially lanolin fats, and is intended mostly for use on animals. The best treatment available over the counter is Antiseptic Healing Ointment (http://www.bravesoldier.com/antiseptic-healing-ointment.php) by Brave Soldier (http://www.bravesoldier.com). The product was developed specifically for road rash and saddle sore treatment. Its active ingredients are Lidocaine which relieves the pain and Chloroxylenol, which is a true antiseptic as defined by the FDA. Its inactive ingredients include tea tree oil among many other natural oils that also aid the healing process. It works faster than neosporin or anything else I have found for that matter. Happy riding! :thumb:

what's worse than a shill? A zombie shill!

I guess there could be more kind of sores than one. But my study of the issue points to local skin area becoming infected by bacteria -most often but not always at a hair follicle. Now understand that if an infection grows large, that the body will wall it off by creating a cyst. This area can then become reinfected - and I think that is what happens when people talk about "deep down" pimples.

Very estute, you are correct. Saddle sore is a general term that basically encompasses any of the wounds, infections, or sores that develop as a result of spending time on the saddle. They can come in the form of pimples (technical term folliculitis) which are actually infected at the hair follicle or ingrown hairs, hot spot rashes, or even abscess if left un treated. Shaving is a good way to prevent the infected hair follicles and ingrown hairs. Also showering quickly after a ride, and wearing clean shorts every time can help prevent this type of sore.