Update on the @$%&! saddle sores issue.
 

Saw my dermatologist today for unrelated stuff and I had him take a look. He confirmed that they are healing up nicely, as I knew because I've been looking at the little buggers in the mirror. He suggested using cream containing zinc oxide, a suggestion that I've also seen online. He also said I might consider moleskin to protect the affected area when I ride.

I've been through this before--taking time off the bike to get all healed, and then when I start riding they get irritated and inflamed all over again. I'll give it another try and see what happens...

Zinc Oxide is a major ingredient in baby diaper rash ointments. I have a tube at home that is 40% zinc oxide by composition, and whenever I feel a pimple down there, applying a dab before bed always result in the pimple being less threatening by morning. Use sparingly as the stuff can get really messy if too much is used.

Chafed skin is one thing, that is from abrasion. But as I recall, you reported pimple-like outbreaks, and that is from a hygiene problem of one kind or another. Some folks can get away with a more lax regimen, but apparently not you. Your shorts must be machine washed after every ride. You might try some antibiotic ointment, either water soluble like J&J first aid cream or the ones that are in petroleum jelly like Neosporin instead of chamois butter on your shorts pad. Zinc oxide as recommended by your doctor may help, but prevention by sanitation is most important. Get out of your shorts immediately after a ride. Good luck.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...tL._SX466_.jpg

THANK ME LATER ...:thumb:

Sudocrem after rides. Bepanthen before bed. This is all you need.

Or mix that with an antibiotic cream. Problem is that Chamois Butter is to prevent abrasion, and it just doesn't seem like that is OP's problem. He doesn't have broken skin from chafing, he has pimples.

http://www.prestoimages.net/store20/...d2008389_1.jpg

This works to clear up skin. [Rx only]

If i had some kind of infection i wouldn't ride til it clears up.

Actually steroid creams are the best but you shouldn't use them very often due to skin thinning.

Zinc oxide can help IME but you have to address the root cause of the problem or they will keep coming back. In my case that was bike fit (lower, slightly more forward saddle position in my case.)

If I were a betting man, I'd bet that simply washing your bib shorts (in a washing machine, with detergent) after every use will solve your problem. This is me recalling your post-ride shower "wash" from your previous thread.

Your memory is good!

One big problem is that I live in an apartment complex with only a single washer. I think I will try putting my bibs in a basin with a little laundry soap, and then using HOT water from the sink to handwash them post-ride.

Get a teenager down there to pop them for you? :)

I had the same issue this last summer. I'd get 1 or 2 butt zits per month. For whatever reason after suffering for 3-4 months the issue resolved itself. I think the butt zits were due to sitting too much. I've been working on elevating more, at least 5-10% of the time.

now that you plan on washing them properly with detergent :thumb:, for gods sake don't neglect to rinse them properly, otherwise you'll end up with a rash from the detergent.

Of course! I also have a centrifugal clothing spinner that gets most of the water out, so they air-dry pretty quickly.

Yes, I've made that suggestion about a thousand times.

If you are troubled with saddle sores ... after every ride:

-- shower
-- wash the affected area with a shampoo containing zinc (dandruff shampoos)
-- dry well
-- apply zinx oxide cream (diaper rash cream)
-- put on loose boxers to allow air flow and because the cream is really messy.

Haven't try item #2 ...I'll give it a go! Thanks.

Not to be difficult, but no, you really need to machine wash your shorts. Try some oxygen bleach, not chlorine. If you get a shorter lifetime from you shorts, so what. You have to get them disinfected. I had forgotten about the hand washing of the shorts thing. No good.

I would encourage you to try machine washing them every now and then.

But if you are going to handwash ... use borax and/or eucalyptus oil with your laundry soap. Scrub the pad well.

[HR][/HR]
And regarding creams ...

Use the zinc oxide cream after your ride. Don't use it during your ride.

During your ride, don't use any creams. Keep yourself as clean and dry as possible. If you're on a long ride, stop in at a toilet and either use water and paper towels to clean yourself, or baby wipes.

[HR][/HR]
BTW, just to clarify ... is it just a few pimples? Or is it an actual sore?

If it is just a few pimples ... that's normal.

I really doubt that's the problem. IME, I found no correlation with saddle sores between machine washing and sink washing my shorts. As long as you wash them somehow it probably isn't causing the saddle sores.

Cool story, I guess...

This is what I suggested in the original thread:

http://www.clinicalpharmacology.com/...0/beta371u.jpg




I'm tellin' ya', THIS is the stuff.


S

If you're into that sort of thing...



S

Apartment dweller? Can you get an apartment washer? I have a large one that does a nearly full sized load for my place. They make them small enough to sit on a counter, though.

Because... yikes.

+1000 on this ^^^

It will help prevent ingrown hairs caused by chafing which is the source of most breakouts in your nether-regions.

Otherwise, if you develop a rash, this below is highly recommended – will usually clear it up in about 24 hours:

http://www.buttpaste.com/assets/prod...bd3c74f85e.jpg

Be forewarned, zinc oxide is listed as a component to add bounce to golf balls in many patents.

There are many middle-aged men who would be happy to have a little extra bounce in their balls.