Fungal infection.

BOYDIE

Hi all,
Shocking subject matter...... :shock:
I have been training hard for a race on Sunday coming,and have been itching badly for the past couple of weeks this is due to a fungal infection in my groin and arse area,does any body have any tips on washing cycling gear at 30 degrees that will kill all bacteria.

I have been to the doctor and have been perscribed cream 8) which has all but eliminated the rash,but is there any specialist detergent for sports gear which will wash and not destroy my gear.Ive been cycling for 20years and have never suffered from this before.

It was my own fault recycling my gear,2 rides out of my shorts etc. :roll:
Cant take the wife laughing at me, putting cream on my backside trying to look in the mirror at the same time

Anonymous

Bio washing powder should do, really.

supersonic

I get this in my groin, is a pain in the arse, literally. Didn't have it ever until last year, and came out of the blue, and comes periodically. The cream works wonders though, save some. I put some on before cycling too.

meanredspider

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Bio washing powder should do, really.

I doubt a few enzymes (designed to break down stains) are going to kill fungal spores. I think they're usually pretty robust.

You need to find some anti-fungal treatment or wash at a good temperature. I'd imagine something like Daktarin (sp?) spray applied directly after wearing then again after washing would help. You could also try a peroxide bleach like Ace (washing bleach) which, provided you don't let it dry on the garment before washing, won't damage it but could help destroy any residual spores.

Anonymous

You reckon Bio doesn't work?
Hmm.
I occasionally suffer from this. A fact compounded by sitting in a leather chair at work all day, having a leather sofa, and a leather lazyboy in front of the computer.
Did you get any special cream, or just the usual clotrimazole?
Always worth taking with you if you're going for a riding holiday.

meanredspider

yeehaamcgee wrote:

You reckon Bio doesn't work?
.

"Bio" only contains enzymes designed to break down different types of stains - oils, fats and proteins mostly. There's no antifungal or antibac capability as such. I used to make this stuff (Ariel, Daz, Bold etc) so I know what's in it - as far as I'm aware the guidance has always been to use temperature or bleach to kill bugs and fungi when washing. It's always been a downside to low temperature or ultra-low temperature washing.

BOYDIE

Yup, Doc gave me some clotrimazole cream does work wonders.

I wish that cycling/sports gear was desigined so it could be washed above 30 degrees with out damaging it.Ill give a try at 40/50 degrees with a bio powder and some oxyclean which has some anti fungal treatment in it (google).

Fingers crossed.

meanredspider

I've just seen that Vanish are marketing an anti-bacterial wash. Only trouble is that your problem is fungal rather than bacterial so I have no idea if it will help.

BOYDIE

Oh just found this on google,
Put half a cup of white vinegar in with your washing,white vinegar has a natural anti fungal quality,people treat ring worm with it.

Ill give this a try as well.

Anonymous

meanredspider wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

You reckon Bio doesn't work?
.

"Bio" only contains enzymes designed to break down different types of stains - oils, fats and proteins mostly. There's no antifungal or antibac capability as such. I used to make this stuff (Ariel, Daz, Bold etc) so I know what's in it - as far as I'm aware the guidance has always been to use temperature or bleach to kill bugs and fungi when washing. It's always been a downside to low temperature or ultra-low temperature washing.

Ah, right.
I'd guessed that it would help. oops!

meanredspider

BOYDIE wrote:

Oh just found this on google,
Put half a cup of white vinegar in with your washing,white vinegar has a natural anti fungal quality,people treat ring worm with it.

Ill give this a try as well.

There's a product called Eradicil specifically for this but it's expensive so give the vinegar a try first.

supersonic

Stuff I have is called Daktacort

whyamihere

If you're using proper cycling shorts with a pad, get some decent anti bacterial/anti fungal chamois cream. I use Assos, it's a bit expensive, but it's brilliant stuff. You won't have any more problems if you use that before long rides.

.blitz

BOYDIE wrote:

It was my own fault recycling my gear,2 rides out of my shorts etc.

Tut tut

I find the 30 degree wash a total PITA a) because it takes ages b) I don't own anything else that has to be washed at 30 and c) it doesn't seem to do much in terms of cleaning.

So...I have blasted all my cycling gear on a 50 degree speed wash for years and TBH apart from the lairy colours looking less lairy everything else is OK.

This includes quality liners from Assos and cheap'n'cheerful ones from Lidl. If it's something with a water-resistant coating I take it easy but anything that is next to my skin gets nuked.

jonesey10

I'm suffering slightly with this too atm, can you get any anti fungal cream at a chemist or would I need to get a prescription?

antfly

You can buy it but once the fungus attaches itself you have a friend for life.
I`m happy to say I only get it on my feet.

jonesey10

Nice, I've just done a quick search and it has a warning that Daktacort should not be used on your undercarriage!!! I think I'll try Clotrimazole. anybody else used this one?

Anonymous

jonesey10 wrote:

I'm suffering slightly with this too atm, can you get any anti fungal cream at a chemist or would I need to get a prescription?

you can buy it at the chemists. Go for the Canesten hydro-cortisone (the Canesten one has an anti-fungal Clotrimazole in it too, which cheaper hydro-cortisone creams do not), or buy some thrush cream - it's the same clotrimazole stuff, but without the hydro-cortisone.

antfly

I use it on my feet, it`s good stuff but it makes no difference if you use it for a couple of days or twice a day for a month as the instructions suggest.
Just get a generic clotrimazole cream, it`s the same for half the price. You really don`t need the hydrocortisone.

Anonymous

You're meant to keep using it for a while after the obvious signs of the infection are gone though, to help prevent it from re-appearing.

antfly

IME it makes no difference how long you use the stuff you never get rid of it completely.

Bar Shaker

Bacterial and fungal infections are basically the same.

Pearl Izumi shorts have silver sown into the chamois and this is proven to stop bacterial infection. They aren't cheap but they do cure the problem. There may be other brands that do this.

For washing normal shorts, socks, gloves etc, if you get these infections, not much beats a treatment with Detol or similar.

Soaking hands and feet in neat vinegar is also a permanent solution to killing the infection if you have it there too. Undercarriage... go see the doctor.

alfablue

Bar Shaker wrote:

Bacterial and fungal infections are basically the same..

:shock:

That's a new one :roll:

Bar Shaker

My doctor told me that what most people call a fungal infection is actually a bacteria living in the skin.

hearndenemma

I wash my cycling gear at higher temps and it seems ok!!

Fungus and Bacteria are NOT the same :roll: for a start fungi lacks chlorophyll so they absorb food from what they grow on, can be good or bad eg brewing beer making bread.... or bad stealing nutrients from the host!! However skin problems could be bacterial or fungal. I'll leave it at that nowI think, anyway GP's are great but they have to know a little about a lot and aren't always right.