OK, so my title pretty much sums it up. What do I need to change? Shorts? Saddle? Lube? Should I post a picture so you can get a better idea of what needs to be done???
I went to the doc a few weeks back and got some antibiotics.
.
I went to the doc a few weeks back and got some antibiotics.
.
Antibiotics? Really? Excuse my ignorance…I thought saddle sores were an abrasion/chafing… Why antibiotics?
Mine may have been slightly different. It was where part of my saddle was rubbing for sure, but could have been caused by an ingrown hair or something. Anyway, he didn’t want to risk me getting infected. Stayed off the bike for 10 days. 
I went to the doc a few weeks back and got some antibiotics.
.
Antibiotics? Really? Excuse my ignorance…I thought saddle sores were an abrasion/chafing… Why antibiotics?
The chafing causes an infection in the hair follicle, hence the antibiotics.
To the OP, try chamois cream if you’re not using it already. If that doesn’t work then look into a different saddle.
Is your seat to high? No seriously…
I had a couple manifest after a trip to Texas that I’ve been dealing with it for a few weeks, with one wanting to linger around for a while. I lowered my seat slightly and re-leveled it. Not sure if I read it here or someplace else, but Noxzema seems to be working for me.
I went to the doc a few weeks back and got some antibiotics.
.
Antibiotics? Really? Excuse my ignorance…I thought saddle sores were an abrasion/chafing… Why antibiotics?
If and when the saddle sores get infected antibiotics can be really useful but that’s not usually where you start treating them.
A good chamois cream with antibacterial properties like DZ Nuts or the eurostyle Butt Buttr tubs with witch hazel or even Bag Balm can help avoid them or help head them off in the pass. A slightly high saddle can lead to saddle sores if you’re rocking even a bit more than necessary and of course riding a good chamois and keeping it clean helps to stave them off.
For the more typical ingrown hairs that can lead to full blown saddle sores a dab of Clearasil can help clear them up but the most important thing is to get out of the bike shorts and clean up as soon as possible after each ride. So keep some diaper wipes in your kit bag if you’ll be out away from a shower and clean up as soon as possible after riding and don’t stand around in your riding shorts post ride.
If the saddle sores are deep then a drawing salve can help and if they get real bad sometimes having a medical professional lance them is in order and that certainly sucks so it’s best if they don’t get that bad.
No easy answers other than to do everything you can to avoid them in the future but right now if they’re not too bad you can try a chamois cream with antibiotic properties and cleaning up immediately after each ride.
Good luck,
-Dave
I’ve started using a layer of product called A&D. It’s for diaper rash, found in the diaper section of grocery. Petroleum based with antibiotic characteristics. I put chamois buttr over the A&D and have virtually eliminated chafing issues. I also find that my tri suit is way more comfy than my bike shorts. Chamois on my shorts is too thick I think. The thinner the better for me.
My secret to keeping the saddle sores away is to wipe around the area with a dollop (yes, that is a very scientific measurement) of hand sanitizer gel. The anti-bacterial properties of it help keep it at bay.
I went to the doc a few weeks back and got some antibiotics.
.
this was me today…
My secret to keeping the saddle sores away is to wipe around the area with a dollop (yes, that is a very scientific measurement) of hand sanitizer gel. The anti-bacterial properties of it help keep it at bay.
OK, if that is a joke, then that is the meanest joke I have ever heard… :-)?
My secret to keeping the saddle sores away is to wipe around the area with a dollop (yes, that is a very scientific measurement) of hand sanitizer gel. The anti-bacterial properties of it help keep it at bay.
OK, if that is a joke, then that is the meanest joke I have ever heard… :-)?
Nope, the other go to when I don’t have diaper wipes available is some rubbing alcohol on a tissue to clean up away from home. If it burns, you know you’ve got broken skin and needed it. It also tends to toughen up the skin a bit over time. Yeah, it can be brutal if you’ve got a lot of chafing but that’s when it’s most valuable as all those open abrasions are saddle sores waiting to happen.
Feel the burn…
My secret to keeping the saddle sores away is to wipe around the area with a dollop (yes, that is a very scientific measurement) of hand sanitizer gel. The anti-bacterial properties of it help keep it at bay.
OK, if that is a joke, then that is the meanest joke I have ever heard… :-)?
Nope, the other go to when I don’t have diaper wipes available is some rubbing alcohol on a tissue to clean up away from home. If it burns, you know you’ve got broken skin and needed it. It also tends to toughen up the skin a bit over time. Yeah, it can be brutal if you’ve got a lot of chafing but that’s when it’s most valuable as all those open abrasions are saddle sores waiting to happen.
Feel the burn…
Anyone wanna buy a bike?
Also, be sure you are always using fresh / dry bike shorts.
You use the shorts more than once between washings and you will get into trouble
Also, be sure you are always using fresh / dry bike shorts.
You use the shorts more than once between washings and you will get into trouble
who is his right mind would use a bike short twice?!?!?!
I keep the area trimmed with an electric razor.
Exfoliate after each ride.
I used to be very prone to saddle sores and these two things fixed it for me.
I had tried all the OTC creams and even made some of my own - all without success.
A trim and a scrubb did the job.
New shorts. Or wash your old shorts in bleach (providing the lycra survives…) Bleach kills bacteria.
Wipe the saddle sore area with an antibacterial wipe before each ride. Alcohol pad from a first aid kit works.
That should do it. Someone said to remove the hair. That would probably work too.
Saddle sores are not fun.
My secret to keeping the saddle sores away is to wipe around the area with a dollop (yes, that is a very scientific measurement) of hand sanitizer gel. The anti-bacterial properties of it help keep it at bay.
OK, if that is a joke, then that is the meanest joke I have ever heard… :-)?
No, I’m actually serious. If the skin is chaffed it does sting a bit but this really does work. Saddle sores are caused/aggrivated by bacteria and the alcohol based gel wipes them out.
I personally wouldn’t be putting hand sanitizer on my gooch… I would stick to Chamois cream (just don’t use too much, was riding in neutral support van for a cycling road race in the rain doing tech, and we were driving behind some dude who had used too much and it looked like he had rabies in his arse, every bump he would hit, foam would come out of the arse of his shorts)… I’ve fortunately (knock on wood) have dodged too many issues on this front, by taking preventative steps (always using clean shorts, using good shorts, not crappy ones, showering after I ride to keep things clean, using chamois cream when riding in extreme conditions, making sure my seat fits my anatomy, etc.)
Just finding the right shorts and cream worked for me. I’ve biked more this year than ever previously, and no issues. Most of the usual creams didn’t work well, and I actually use body glide now. When I had sores before, the drawing ointment/salve helped alleviate things.