chamois for saddle sores
 

It was wet today, again. My behind is sensitive to the touch now. I've applied some skin care I brought with me, but I'm wondering what others use for bum protection. I don't normally use chamois cream, even for long rides, but things might be different if you're doing this repeatedly. I've looked it up, and it seems like bagbalm is a popular choice, but I'm not expecting to find them in the general department stores. I've also read about someone who uses Crisco. So are there any recommendations for an easy, light, bum cream for touring?

I always carry a little 35 mm film canister with me full of good ole petroleum jelly, Vaseline. Always easy to find if you can't find the good stuff.

Mud guards and a good quality rain jacket with long tail help to keep shorts dry.

The principle behind using a cream to prevent saddle sores is that it prevents the material of your shorts from moving/chafing against your skin.
In the past a chamois lining was used which when chamois cream was applied stuck the shorts immovably to your backside therebye removing the friction that causes heat leading to sores.

I prefer using something that includes an antiseptic myself and at the moment am using a cream originally used to prevent chafing in cows' udders.
Wiggle | Udderly Smooth Extra Care Cream 8oz | Muscle Rubs

This works a treat in preventing saddle sores but I find it prudent to avoid Dairy farms around milking times.

Cleaning and drying yourself periodically helps too. When you come across a public toilet, wash yourself and dry well with paper towel. That helps get rid of sweat salt which can cause chafing.

On a rainy day, if you can wash and dry yourself, and then change into a dry pair of shorts, that helps too. Laundromats come in very handy on rainy days.

All great advice. Keep clean and dry.

Once saddle sores appear, there's no way to real relief from the pain until they heal. Vaseline does reduce the pain somewhat. You don't want the sores to get real bad. Do what you can as soon as there's a problem. I'd do some searching on the web to see what is the best way to treat saddle sores once they appear. If they get real-real bad, I'd even recommend seeing a doctor to get a prescription.

You may also experience pain from having so much time in the saddle. This isn't from saddle sores, just the rear not being used to so much time in the saddle or from body position. It's easy to tell the difference between the two types of pain.

On the other hand if caught early when it is still just chafing, a zinc based diaper cream like Balmex works wonders if worn over night. I have found it to be like magic.

To prevent problems one thing I found really important is to get out of bike shorts and air out after off the bike for the day. I try to get into running shorts in camp and sleep in them as well.

I don't personally find routine use of creams as necessary, but if I feel a little abrasion starting during the day I may hit the spot with a dab of petroleum jelly or even Balmex.

Here is my regime to prevent saddle sores:
- Use lubricant like Udder Butter, Bag Balm or Chamois Butt'r before riding. Always.
- Wash shorts after each day of riding. Always.
- If a sore starts to develop, treat it with antiseptic lotion and quit riding for a few days.

Saddle sores can become bad infections of left untreated. In extreme cases, they can cause serious problems. A local cyclist lost a leg due to a bad saddle sore.

+1 to all of the above. I carry diaper wipes for periodic cleaning and apply Chamois butter liberally and rinse out shorts everyday. The key is you don't want chafing or bacteria to form. Nothing worse than a sore bum!

Tea tree oil and liquid vitamin E work well to treat them after cleansing and drying the area, just don't double dip/contaminate the bottles with used swabs when applying.

I've found that Tegaderm on sores/chafing/bumps making riding much more comfortable until it heals. It keeps it from chafing further and makes riding way more comfortable.

I am no expert.... and I am a little confused by your post. Although many people find comfort using a variety of skin lubricants that should have little to do with saddle sores.

Saddle sores are often referred to as a hygiene issue. The "sore"... as I understand it most commonly cause by clogged pores. Although crushed and damaged areas... I believe.. are also responsible (for the clogging).

Of course the with no way to know which issue is causing anyone saddle sore the best approach might be two (or 3) pronged. Thoroughly clean and dry all cycling gear. Wear cycling shorts with good quality chamois. Never wear shorts more than once before laundering. Never wear underwear with cycling shorts.

Thoroughly clean and dry all the areas affected by saddle sore immediately following your ride. I like hot soapy water followed by alcohol. I think baby wipes might be helpful when touring.

Be fit. Bicycles have saddles... not seats. That is easy to forget when we get tired. Don't use the saddle to support the bulk of your body weight. Use the pedals and handle bars to help share the weight... particularly in bumpy areas that could cause damage to your bottom.

I used 3 pair of shorts so always had a clean pair daily . I used surgeon's scrub to wash my skin , there... and that did 90% of it..

any small flare ups a dab of Neo-Sporin type, anti bacterial ointment did it ..

I found its mostly keeping the skin clean and the native bacteria on the surface knocked back, & out of the Pores.

Interesting. I did not know this. Having always heard these creams described as lubricants I thought sticking was bad.

+1 for zinc based diaper cream

If OP's undisclosed location is near a Walmart, they sometimes have Bag Balm in stock. Otherwise, a diaper cream would work well after the day's ride (and cleaning the affected area).

IME, Chamois Buttr works slightly better as a lubricant during the ride.

+1

Regarding the zinc-based diaper cream ... after my long rides, I would shower, apply it, then wear loose boxer-type shorts to bed. In the morning, any hint of rash, chafing, etc. was gone.
But I also tried it while cycling, and that was a disaster ... it is a post-ride cream.

Regarding the little abrasions ... I like Ozonol. It is an anti-bacterial, painkiller cream (there are a few different brands on the market). A little dab of Ozonol mid-ride when a tiny pain spot begins ... and it clears up nicely.


Otherwise, like you, I don't use creams. I tried a whole bunch of different ones one year ... applied them, then rode a century ... and came to the conclusion that they all just made matters so much worse. What worked was keeping clean and dry. That ... and having a bicycle which is properly set up ... and a good saddle.

150,000 km ... and only 1 saddle sore. :)

Try A and D ointment as a lubricant. It can be found in the baby department of most grocery and drug stores.

That is very similar to the Balmex that I mentioned previously. I always found it to be much more suited to overnight treatment than for during riding. It may work for some while riding and I have a couple times gotten by with putting a tiny dab on a spot where a bit of chafing was just starting, but I too found it a disaster as Machka mentioned when I once slathered it on during a ride. So I'd advise caution about using it as a general lubricant while riding.

It is not quite the same. A&D does not contain zinc oxide, which is what causes the "disasters". I've used it both for long-distance running and cycling with no problems.

This has always worked for me:
Soap and water wash before and after a ride. And yes, clean shorts.

I use Bag Balm placed where I commonly feel the effects of a long ride in the saddle, before the ride.

If I do get irritation after the ride I wash well with soap and water. Then apply Aloe Vera Gel. Aloe works so well and so fast to heal irritated skin. It's available at drug stores, natural food stores or online.
Amazon.com : Fruit Of The Earth 100% Aloevera 2 oz. Gel : Aloe Vera Gel : Health & Personal Care

Prevention and cure.

Oh, OK. I thought that it was zinc oxide as well. Makes sense though because I am now thinking that the times I successfully dabbed some on during riding it may have been A&D and the time it was a disaster was probably Balmex.

Products like 'Udder Butter', 'Bag Balm' and similar products are very commonly found in in the skin care section of supermarkets, grocery stores and department stores. I've always been able to find something suitable when traveling.

Do you get saddle irritation when it is dry, or only when wet ?
if I only when wet, fenders help.
if when wet or dry, the consider saddle/bike fit ?

Brooks saddle. Peneten cream in the tube, day and night, two layers of fleece in all my clothes to act like a chammy.

Add Desitin for after the ride. Smells but relieves the itch