I’ve gotten them periodically throughout the last couple years, but only when I’ve done some or all of these:
-I don’t shower or clean with baby wipes down there right after a ride and change out of my chamois
-I don’t use chamois cream
-My saddle is too high on a new bike
-My saddle is too far forward
I’ve tried various creams, like noxema, but the only stuff that worked was various acne products containing benzoyl peroxide. Just make sure you don’t get it on your cotton underwear because it bleaches.
Hope you figure out something soon. Mine suck, but I’ve never had anything as troublesome as what you’re experiencing.
I have had some success with Hemorrhoid cream.
Shrinks the tissue and has some soothing effect as well as it can (not always) contain a mild antibiotic.
I need to somehow stop whatever is causing this ASAP (but not to the extent of not riding).
I think you should stop riding. Plus most of everything else suggested.
The times I’ve got them, with good bike fit and good hygiene, they were always a sign of overtraining and did not go away until I cut way back, including some time off the bike. I did do some races (road races/crits) with saddle sores by cutting a hole in the saddle where the sore was, and one time using a topical painkiller. But that was just to get through the events.
Serious saddle sores are an injury, and are not going to heal unless you let them. The other stuff in this thread is preventive.
If you really want to keep bike fitness, you could use a recumbent bike in the gym. Skating can help hold onto bike fitness decently if you take a few weeks off.
Has been mentioned but saddle position and fit was absolutely crucial for me. I lowered my seat by less than 1cm and got myself moved back on my saddle to the more flared seat parts (more surface contact area) and my recurrent saddle sores that kept happening in the same spot went away.
I was getting a sore from all the rubbing of the saddle nose/neck on my inner perineum - the new position dramatically reduced it, with only small changes needed.
Clean chamois is a given. I tried all the other stuff (assos thick bibs, other bibs, chamois creams, even underlayer lycra under bike bibs), and at least for me it didn’t make a difference as the underlying problem was that excessive contact point.
I know it’s not always a popular suggestion, but alcohol wipes after post-ride shower and before bed every night. It helps keep any issues I have at bay. Plus it gives the wife a few laughs!!
In your original description it does sound a little bit like cysts. But it also sounds a little bit like bubonic plague.
I wonder if this started shortly after a new brand of laundry detergent appeared in your home. Or after switching from line dry to dryer, or some other such similar change.
If it were me, Treatment:
Doxycycline poImmediately rinse shorts in shower after ride, as suggested aboveAfter shower, treat affected skin with isopropanol (70% is fine) followed by betadine for residual (not betascrub)Also splash bike shorts with isopropanolAbandon cotton underwear for a while (especially over betadine); switch to something like Adidas Climacool synthetic, well-ventilated, though admittedly not as comfortable as cotton
Prevention:
Ditch padded bike shorts. They cause moisture, heat, friction. You’re proving they don’t work, but you’re ignoring the proof. Try something like the Climacools, mentioned above, topped by thin yoga shorts. You need cool, ventilated, dry, not foam-padded soggy insulation.
I had similar issues. actually putting my bib shorts in the dryer solved most of my problems. I was hang drying them before. i haven’t seem much increased wear and tear since. I also shower immediately after and apply tea tree oil to affected spots afterwards. Obviously lots of cream before and clean dry shorts. Indoor training makes it worse, at least for me, because I sweat so much more indoors.
Chiming in again, this time on saddle height/position/bike fit.
If the saddle sore is consistently on one side/one spot, then that could reduce the odds of it being hygiene. Hygiene happens all over.
Try this. When cornering unseat yourself from the saddle by driving the outside leg down hard on the pedal lowering your center of gravity. Do that on left hand turns and right hand turns. You might find that your hips are not even and on one side you can’t really unseat yourself from the saddle. Lower the saddle until you do you feel your weight off the saddle while in that turn. That could be just 5-10mm drop.
You may notice light pressure on the sore when cornering.
Most of the above is solid advice- a good fit, changing bibs each ride, thoroughly dry bibs after washing, good hygiene etc. All these work to prevent sores. Any time I have had a sore- and it has been a long time-I used Bag Balm and have had great results-the stuff is messy and will stain clothes and bedding but has worked great for me. I think the tin I have is about 8 years old.
Thanks everyone for their advice.
So far, now that this latest one has healed and I can actually sit down again…I have dropped the saddle height by 5mm and being cognisant about not staying in the aero position for really long periods.
Hygeine wise I have to say that I was previously all over it so just adding some post ride/shower care to the routine…
Fingers crossed…
Am pretty sure this latest one was mainly pressure related from the saddle position…rather than friction/folliculitis…
Fingers crossed…
I second this about the laundry detergent. After many years of riding I had a very similar reaction and tried to change a number of things. It turns out it was the laundry detergent soap causing the problem. Think of how much that fabric rubs into those follicles. I would wash your clothes immediately with you in the shower then give them a proper wash with extra rinse cycle. Change the laundry soap. Also maybe try aquaphor instead of your chamois cream. I also agree tea tree oil for treatment.
