Since the point of using skin lube is just that, you want to avoid
skin creams/grease that list water as an ingredient. There is more
than enough water down there from sweat. You want something
that will last, especially on rides of more than 12hours. The previously
mentioned bag balm is odorized petroleum jelly, and is likely to last
a long time. If you want to smell like sheep, lanolin based creams
(with no water in ingredients) should work as well. Stearic/palmitic
etc are emulsifiers to make the grease emulsify with the water so
listing these in the ingredients with water suggests a product that
will not last. Any cream that 'vanishes' is NOT what you want.
Oils are less likely to last the amount of time needed as well.
Additional points: if the chafing goes away a few days after the
ride, then lube is in order. If there is skin abrasion to the point of
weeping like a blister, then this will have to heal first, and this may
take 5-7 days. If there is redness that persists and swelling then
the pro nemesis of crotch skin infection may be developing. This will
be quite painful, and MD attention is needed. Then there is fungal
infection, a well delineated red area that gradually spreads out of the
groin. OTC topical antifungals will usually suppress this over days to
a week or so.
Last edited by sch; 06-19-07 at 07:47 PM.