boilage on the undercarriage!!

ozzy1000

hi all,

any adivce on how to care for ones undercarriage?? I get ingrowers/boils fairly consistently behind my crown jewls..... is hair removal advantageous?? I'm very much an ape man!

all the best, O

Bronzie

Shaving or attacking the undergrowth with napalm will almost certainly make things worse.

- are you using shorts with a decent insert?
- maybe use chamois cream or Sudocrem etc on longer rides, but shouldn't really be necessary
- get changed out of cycling kit and shower as soon as you get in to keep it hygienic
- "Second Skin" stings like hell on open sores but can help to stop them getting worse / infected

simon_e

Bronzie wrote:

- get changed out of cycling kit and shower as soon as you get in to keep it hygienic

I shower promptly (shorts go in the linen basket), then apply some Weleda calendula nappy cream a little later. The cream is probably too thick to use on the bike, it's a bit like toothpaste, but is good for healing saddle sores. Loose-fitting clothes help too.

ozzy1000

thanks for the replies... my first thoughts were about hygiene, I allways shower straight after rides.... when you refer to "decent insert" what do you mean? I'm a cheap skate and use cheap shorts with a fabric chamois in... do better shorts use somthing else??

cheers, O

Bronzie

ozzy1000 wrote:

I'm a cheap skate and use cheap shorts with a fabric chamois in

Treat your butt cheeks with the respect they deserve!

I tend to wear club kit only these days - ours is made by Giordana and has a moulded synthetic chamois - they are pretty comfortable to be honest - some of the best I've used.

http://www.giordana.com/en/collezioni/fondelli/mc3-of

simon_e

Bronzie wrote:

I tend to wear club kit only these days - ours is made by Giordana and has a moulded synthetic chamois - they are pretty comfortable to be honest - some of the best I've used.

You're talking about comfort on the bike rather than post-ride skin health. I'd suggest that frequent change of inexpensive shorts is better than repeated wearing of any shorts, whatever the value.

mouth

ozzy1000 wrote:

hi all,

any adivce on how to care for ones undercarriage?? I get ingrowers/boils fairly consistently

With you here Bro. My advice, get down the doctors.

About 5 years ago I developed what I thought was a spot between the cheeks and ever really thought much of it, except for giving it a squeeze. Little did I know that it would become infected and grow to about the size of a 20p.

One day whilst driving to work I hit a bump in the road and literally cried my eyes out. I'd agitated it badly so I went to the walk-in centre who promptly referred me to A&E. These guys referred me to Dermatology and 8 hours later I went under the knife to remove said artefact.

All was well for about 5 minutes after I woke up. And then the Nurse came to change my dressing. Anyone familiar with a packed dressing will understand what I am about to say. There was poking and prodding and some more poking, by which point the tears had returned. The nurse asked what time I had taken my pain killers and suggested that maybe the dose be upped. I told her I knew nothing about any tablets and suggested she get me some. Two days in hospital having the dressing changed every 8 hours eventually led me to my release whereupon I had to see a nurse EVERY day for 8 weeks to change the dressing. For the first two weeks, sitting, walking and standing were near impossible. Also, I was on strong antibiotics so no drinking

I was referred for a follow-up appointment only to be told that this hadn't worked and I had to go again for the same op, but this time 'removing more tissue'

The story was repeated, except for daily visits increased to 6 months. At its worst, the wound as my regular nurse addressed it was 5 inches across, 2 wide and 2 deep. A real mess. Overall, it took nearly 2 ears to heal fully, in which time there was no exercise, no baths only showers, loose trousers (good job, gained 2 stone from lack of exercise) and sitting down for more than a few minutes was often painful. Sometimes this led to spotting - blood loss from my ass crack which sometimes led to real embarrassment and the need to carry spare trousers. After about a year I began self-medicating and gave up on the nurse, just going occasionally to make sure all was OK.

All seems funny looking back and it does raise a few cackles in the pub, but even something as mundane as dropping a log could only ever be attempted at home.

I'm now left with a 2 inch scar on my right butt cheek. I can honestly say that the 2 or so years of my 'ordeal' did put me into a real downer and robbed me of much of my confidence. I couldn't even go swimming with my son or run alongside as he rode his bike with no stabilizers for the first time. I never want to go through anything like this ever again. Nowadays, even the slightest tingle and I reach for the antibiotics.

Bronzie

Simon E wrote:

Bronzie wrote:

I tend to wear club kit only these days - ours is made by Giordana and has a moulded synthetic chamois - they are pretty comfortable to be honest - some of the best I've used.

You're talking about comfort on the bike rather than post-ride skin health. I'd suggest that frequent change of inexpensive shorts is better than repeated wearing of any shorts, whatever the value.

My experience is that shorts with a poor fitting insert will rub and cause more problems than better quality ones. No need to spend a fortune, but might be worth the OP trying some better shorts to see if this helps cut down the number of saddle sores.

I didn't mention anything about wearing the same shorts repeatedly without washing them, which is almost certain to give you saddle sores.

Pokerface

I would also suggest that a different saddle might help. ALthough some good shorts is also key.

I've suffered pretty badly in the past with various ailments 'down there' but the right combo of shorts and saddle sorted me out.

ut_och_cykla

Overwashing with soap can make things worse. Cleanliness is important but washing away your own skin grease leaves skin open to infection too.

Also make sure the clean shorts have been well rinsed. Sweat and remains of washing powder do not make a good combo!

And let 'things' air as much as possible - around the house football shorts with a net inner preserve decency :shock:

Using something like Assos cream can be helpful - apply to troubled areas not to shorts, and expect a sensation of 'warmth' if skin is inflamed or broken.

ozzy1000

thanks again for all the replies.... I think I'm going to invest in some new shorts and see how that goes... I have to say they never seem to amount too much, I don't ever get massive infected oozing boils along the lines of 'mouths' experience... but they're often there and an annoying discomfort...

thanks again, O

roddixon

Simon E wrote:

apply some Weleda calendula nappy cream a little later. The cream is probably too thick to use on the bike, it's a bit like toothpaste, but is good for healing saddle sores.

Tried this out a few days ago and it works like a dream. I knew there were advantages to having babies

simon johnson

My 2p worth:

Trim the hair (do not shave- use clippers)

Post-ride, use some anti-bacterial hand cleanser that doesn't need rinsing.

Overnight, apply Vaseline.

I know how you feel! The above keeps things in check for me.

ddraver

@ Mouth - Holy Sh*t!!!

Ozzy - I do find keeping things tidy in the hair department downstairs useful -especially if you re a real man and have a lot of it - I don't shave so much as trim, and occasionally use some girly bikini line Hair removal cream to tidy things up further, usually before 24hr races

mouth

ddraver wrote:

@ Mouth - Holy Sh*t!!!

Yes that's correct. Going for one was indeed a holy process. If you've ever used a disabled toilet and wonderd what use the grab handles are, then I have the answer.

My Mrs' pet name for me now is Donut, because of the hole in my ass (not the brown one either), which always struck me as odd since a proper 'donut' shouldn't have a hole in the middle but be full of jam/custard/(insert appropriate filling here).

It will come as no surprise to you that I am indeed very careful avec mon derriere.

ozzy1000_0

ddraver wrote:

@ Mouth - Holy Sh*t!!!

Ozzy - I do find keeping things tidy in the hair department downstairs useful -especially if you re a real man and have a lot of it - I don't shave so much as trim, and occasionally use some girly bikini line Hair removal cream to tidy things up further, usually before 24hr races

If crotcharea (pronounced "cruch-air-re-air") hair is a measure of a man, then I'm pretty bloody manly!

I'm not of the leg shaving variety, the last time I shaved my legs I was a youth/junior rider with very little to shave.... I've allways wondered where manly cyclists would stop? do they look like they wear little hairy shorts under their lycra? or maybe little hairy speedos? or do they remove the lot? but then would it look like they're wearing a little hairy shirts (if they're real men!), or do they go for total body hair removal???

some questions may never be answered???

so far my quest for a not sore undercarriage has led me to; scrubbing said area with extra vigour, buying new shorts, and considering using my kids nappy rash cream... thankfully things seemed to have healed up for the moment (fingers crossed!)

mouth

ozzy1000_0 wrote:

ddraver wrote:

@ Mouth - Holy Sh*t!!!

Ozzy - I do find keeping things tidy in the hair department downstairs useful -especially if you re a real man and have a lot of it - I don't shave so much as trim, and occasionally use some girly bikini line Hair removal cream to tidy things up further, usually before 24hr races

If crotcharea (pronounced "cruch-air-re-air") hair is a measure of a man, then I'm pretty bloody manly!

I'm not of the leg shaving variety, the last time I shaved my legs I was a youth/junior rider with very little to shave.... I've allways wondered where manly cyclists would stop? do they look like they wear little hairy shorts under their lycra? or maybe little hairy speedos? or do they remove the lot? but then would it look like they're wearing a little hairy shirts (if they're real men!), or do they go for total body hair removal???

some questions may never be answered???

so far my quest for a not sore undercarriage has led me to; scrubbing said area with extra vigour, buying new shorts, and considering using my kids nappy rash cream... thankfully things seemed to have healed up for the moment (fingers crossed!)

Every bit of mine stays, and if i'm on a particularly lazy week, i don't even shave my face. one week and chock norris has a body double....

it does look a little odd tough when i have hairs protruding through my bibs.

ddraver

Mine would be hanging round my knees if I did nt trim - I just take it back to 1-2mm

SNACK-HEAD

one of those sponges with a rough exfoliating surfaces followed with antseptic nappy cream. Sorted me out after years of problems.

dg74

Mouth wrote:

ozzy1000 wrote:

hi all,

any adivce on how to care for ones undercarriage?? I get ingrowers/boils fairly consistently

With you here Bro. My advice, get down the doctors.

About 5 years ago I developed what I thought was a spot between the cheeks and ever really thought much of it, except for giving it a squeeze. Little did I know that it would become infected and grow to about the size of a 20p.

One day whilst driving to work I hit a bump in the road and literally cried my eyes out. I'd agitated it badly so I went to the walk-in centre who promptly referred me to A&E. These guys referred me to Dermatology and 8 hours later I went under the knife to remove said artefact.

All was well for about 5 minutes after I woke up. And then the Nurse came to change my dressing. Anyone familiar with a packed dressing will understand what I am about to say. There was poking and prodding and some more poking, by which point the tears had returned. The nurse asked what time I had taken my pain killers and suggested that maybe the dose be upped. I told her I knew nothing about any tablets and suggested she get me some. Two days in hospital having the dressing changed every 8 hours eventually led me to my release whereupon I had to see a nurse EVERY day for 8 weeks to change the dressing. For the first two weeks, sitting, walking and standing were near impossible. Also, I was on strong antibiotics so no drinking

I was referred for a follow-up appointment only to be told that this hadn't worked and I had to go again for the same op, but this time 'removing more tissue'

The story was repeated, except for daily visits increased to 6 months. At its worst, the wound as my regular nurse addressed it was 5 inches across, 2 wide and 2 deep. A real mess. Overall, it took nearly 2 ears to heal fully, in which time there was no exercise, no baths only showers, loose trousers (good job, gained 2 stone from lack of exercise) and sitting down for more than a few minutes was often painful. Sometimes this led to spotting - blood loss from my ass crack which sometimes led to real embarrassment and the need to carry spare trousers. After about a year I began self-medicating and gave up on the nurse, just going occasionally to make sure all was OK.

All seems funny looking back and it does raise a few cackles in the pub, but even something as mundane as dropping a log could only ever be attempted at home.

I'm now left with a 2 inch scar on my right butt cheek. I can honestly say that the 2 or so years of my 'ordeal' did put me into a real downer and robbed me of much of my confidence. I couldn't even go swimming with my son or run alongside as he rode his bike with no stabilizers for the first time. I never want to go through anything like this ever again. Nowadays, even the slightest tingle and I reach for the antibiotics.

think it's called a perianal abcess what you had. I have had these twice in my life, both from sedentary jobs (I was a graphic designer for 16 years. 16 years of sitting on my ar$e for ten to sixteen hours a day took it's toll).

Not pleasant. From what I gathered from the doctors it's caused by ingrowing hair that along with sweat, causes an infection that flares up. Looser clothing, less time sitting on your backside and warm baths help stop this form of infection.

In response to the OP, Assos Chamois Cream is a god send. Honestly, it's a great product. Interesting on a winter morning, I can tell you. :oops:

Jesse A

I am not sure if my post has much in it to help, but here is something I wrote earlier in the year concerning this subject.

http://thecyclingaddiction.blogspot.com/2011/03/know-your-sore.html

LeDomestiqueTours

If things are serious then definitely see a doctor and look at new saddle/shorts as something isn't working out for you!

If its just a bit of wear and tear from upping the distance or a one off then you can manage things with Germaloid (keep your head down when buying it). Some on the area before riding in addition to chamois creme/sudocreme and then a dab before bed really helps.

KnightOfTheLongTights

I slap some of this around for long rides (more than 20 miles):
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... r_8oz_Tube
to prevent general chaff-age.

It seemed to serve me well on a recent 1,400km tour of france, but I don't really know if I am all that prone to such problems, so hard to tell how much difference it made. Still, I'm not keen on doing the control experiment to find out ....

Like most chamois cream, it does not have any antispetic properties - I think some people mix chamois cream with savlon?

McBain_v1

I also use the Chamois Buttr, seems to be doing fine.

Worst butt experience was with an anal fissure that opened up after squeezing out a really reluctant dookie whilst being poorly hydrated. Net effect was what felt like a split ring :shock: Lots of bleeding and extreme discomfort followed for about 6 weeks. Damn thing eventually sorted itself out but now I always have my 4 pints of fluids and never try and force things :oops:

Keep it clean and tidy down there because you never know when you are having to go see a pretty nurse and do a Moses (except it won't be the Red Sea she asks you to part).