I've had the same thing, as well as several variations on the same. It's a type of cyst. Doctors who are not long distance cyclists know nothing about them. Been there, done that. Fortunately, I now have a doctor who is a long distance cyclist. I did a 153 mile 10,000' ride with him last year as I was recovering from a saddle sore he was treating.

It's basically a type of skin infection but it's under the derma. He said it could be bacterial or fungal or a combination.

So what to do? First thing to look at is: is it possible to find a saddle that doesn't touch your body where the cyst is? Because it's pressure that creates them. I guess it damages the skin, stuff gets in, your body fights the stuff, but since the pressure keeps occurring the cyst doesn't go away.

Second, fight the immediate infection. You know how pros keep getting dinged for steriods and then say, "The doctor prescribed a steroid cream for my saddle sore." Yeah, so the steroid cream you want is fluocinonide, but you shouldn't use it for more than 2 weeks because it can make your skin thin. For the infection, he prescribed the antibiotic mupirocin. I smeared them both on a few times a day and before and after a ride. That worked great. It's good to know what you want before you go see a doctor.

Third, prevent reinfection. My practice is to shower with a dandruff shampoo. I use Selsun Blue, putting it on my crotch first, then turning off the water, doing the rest of me, then turning the water back on, so that it sits there for a while. I also put on Tea Tree Oil every morning and before and after a ride, just little dabs on my finger. https://www.amazon.com/Tea-Tree-LARG...00PHVXIQA?th=1

I also put some Bag Balm on my butt or chamois before a ride, but that really doesn't help the cyst problem because that's a pressure problem more than a friction problem. Different saddle is the long term solution here.

OP- Also make sure you've tried different positioning on your current saddle before you try a new one. I ride with my saddle angled to the left by a few degrees, and generally level to slightly nose down (maybe less than a degree nose down). If I ride straight and level, I get saddle sores on my right sitbone area. If I angle it slightly, I don't get any. Worth a try.

Just to throw that out there, I and a number of other local riders are suddenly sitting on the same saddle: Selle Italia MAN. A number of female butts are now on Selle Italia Diva, a very similar saddle. If anyone goes for a look, note how quickly these saddles neck down to the nose.

Thanks for the info, very helpful. Man, I've tried about every saddle out there and in about every position they could be set in. Interestingly enough, one of the best in terms of comfort has been a cheap $30 Nashbar saddle. I'm currently using a Selle Italia that has the perineum cut out and it's been quite comfortable. I've been tempted to keep some kind of antibacterial cream on it during the day while at work but thought different given that would create a moist environment thereby fostering growth of bacteria versus having it as dry as possible. I rode my trainer last night for just 35 min. at a good clip without chamois cream which aggravated it a bit. Think I'll go back to using the chamois cream on all rides. As someone had mentioned earlier, it may block a pore but I would imagine that if it is washed off quickly after the ride it shouldn't be a problem.

Have you tried that S.A. MAN saddle? I've also had good luck with one of the Nashbar offerings. As long as you shower after a ride, I don't think butt cream is a bad thing. I had to use it until my cyst went away. In my case, the pressure of the cyst on the saddle also created a friction sore.

nothing grows in antibiotic ointment. stick a little dab of that in the offending spot, maybe rub it in a bit and then just dress and go to work. In my experience, it'll clear up in a day or two off the bike.

Of course, if your saddle/position/shorts/other habits keep it coming back, this is just a treating-the-symptom solution, so I'd still look to address the root causes...

Thanks, I'm in the process of trying this, still hoping to avoid the doctor visit and the needle

Don't be afraid of a needle, since I think the correct tool for the job is a spearpoint razor, which opens a sizable enough path for fluids and cellular solids (i.e. "cheese") to escape entrapment.


I've probably saved myself 20 doctor's visits over the years doing my own surgeries, though seldom in that area. Last time an ER doc cleaned up my road rash he left a small, brick-shaped rock under the skin near my elbow, which I (with the help of some Gallo Cabernet) took out five years later in about 45 long minutes using a couple of Exacto-type spearpoints (both of which ended up dull).


The inflated-looking one I had down there 20 years ago had considerable length/size to it and was recurrent. It turned out to be an ingrown hair that I eventually extracted with, I think, a sewing needle, sans any pain killers. If you take enough time your pain threshold will tend to increase as your patience wears thin, but you have to target the correct small area and must maintain an antibiotic lotion on the perforated skin for a day or two after.


Clogged pores that don't surface or evacuate will become hard, round and white and may eventually surface just under the skin. They are harmless at this point and may slough off on their own, but are easily dug out if they happen to be visible on ones face for example.


An ingrown hair may result from hairs getting pulled out from saddle friction or other mechanical action, and I believe are one thing that chamois creams are designed to prevent.