Chamois cream

macs

I know what chamois cream is but are there any that are better at healing?

Did a long and bumpy ride this weekend without any and I'm sore 'down' to say the least. So thought I'd get some that was good at healing too.

sungod

if they actively affected healing of damaged skin - i.e. accelerated breakdown of damaged tissue together with faster cell growth to replace it - i think they'd need to be classed as drugs and regulated

what's important is one that reduces friction, doesn't irritate your skin, lasts the whole ride even if it's baking hot, and perhaps is mildly antiseptic, i use the assos one, it works for me

end of ride, wash and dry

mercia_man

Germolene is great for healing sore spots, chafing and stopping little pimples get bigger after long rides. It's antiseptic and mildly anaesthetic. I've done lots of multi-day tours in hot conditions and find Germolene excellent for after-ride soothing while Assos is my favourite for application before and during rides.

wishitwasallflat

Wheat germ oil is great for chaffed skin. Assos, Chamois Butr or Bristol Butr for during rides.

Secteur

hydrocortisone (Or any other steroid cream) - will sting++ for a few seconds when you first apply it, but will cure it overnight, perhaps 2 nights if its bad.

if you dont have any, look for "Bee sting cream" etc as this often has steroid in it.

i have a tube of very strong steroid cream, about 2 years out of date - a small smear / dab of that on any saddle chafing, and its gone by the morning 99-times-out-of-a-hundred

[disclaimer - not a doctor! not offering medical advice! etc etc]

macs

Secteur wrote:

hydrocortisone (Or any other steroid cream) - will sting++ for a few seconds when you first apply it, but will cure it overnight, perhaps 2 nights if its bad.

if you dont have any, look for "Bee sting cream" etc as this often has steroid in it.

i have a tube of very strong steroid cream, about 2 years out of date - a small smear / dab of that on any saddle chafing, and its gone by the morning 99-times-out-of-a-hundred

[disclaimer - not a doctor! not offering medical advice! etc etc]

Thanks. I have some 1% hc cream. I'm not sure if that's strong or not but I'll give it a go. When you say it'll string for a few seconds, is it only 5 seconds or is it more like a minute or 2?

Secteur

1% fine

5 seconds

topcattim

Sudocrem. It's pure magic at healing things up but I haven't tried it as a chamois cream while riding.

macs

Secteur wrote:

1% fine

5 seconds

A small smear applied tonight. If it works I'll be very grateful for this tip as we have plenty of hc cream as both kids have excema so had several prescriptions for the stuff.

andcp

topcattim wrote:

Sudocrem. It's pure magic at healing things up but I haven't tried it as a chamois cream while riding.

Agree, but it's cr*p as chamois cream - i tried it and it's too 'thick'

ayjaycee

I think the idea of chamois cream is that if you use it, you are not supposed to get sore and thus do not need healing. You therefore need to get the current problem sorted out and, after that, use chamois cream to stop it happening again. FWIW, my vote goes to the Assos stuff as well.

crescent

+1 for Sudocrem. Designed for nappy rash so very similar symptoms. My mother-in-law used to swear by egg white for curing nappy rash* - we never tried it with our kids so can't comment, but Sudocrem is good for most ailments in delicate areas.


* Disclaimer - my mother-in-law is an idiot so best not to heed any advice from her.

davebradswmb

Maybe it's just me but I would be nervous of using hydrocortisone cream on a regular basis, it is powerful stuff and while it can be very effective it does have side effects. I'd say only use it if Sudocrem or Germolene doesn't do the job. ps I'm not a doctor either, but I do occasionally have to use hydrocortisone cream to help subdue an allergic reaction to the sun, I try to avoid exposing the affected areas these days so that I don't have to use it.

Secteur

davebradswmb wrote:

Maybe it's just me but I would be nervous of using hydrocortisone cream on a regular basis

I didnt suggest this.

I suggested its use purely as a quick acting salve for areas which have become chafed, not as a regular use chamois cream!

Use of decent chamois cream (Assos seems to be the best) will prevent the chafing in the first place.

having said that, i never use chmois cream and only rarely every get chafing, typically needing to use a single application of steroid cream maybe once every 2 months or so as a "Rescue treatment".

sebbyp

Yes... Assos Skin Repair Gel.
Had saddle sores, Sudocrem didnt heal them but helped slightly. The Assos gel sorted them in 2 weeks even whilst still riding 275km/week.
To be fair, maybe the new Assos S7 equipe shorts helped too, screw you Castelli

Rollett

I use DZ Nuts which also has a mild antiseptic in it, as well as a cooling agent which is kinda nice depending on how you feel about that.

wishitwasallflat

DZ Nuts is great, one of the few I reckon are better than assos (Bristolbutr is another) but it is expensive.

dennisn

Pretty sure a new brand comes out once a week. Along with wondrous claims.

sungod

dennisn wrote:

Pretty sure a new brand comes out once a week. Along with wondrous claims.

yep

how's the leg doing now, back on the bike yet?

mercia_man

I think it's important to differentiate between chamois creams and healing products. Chamois creams such as Assos are great for reducing friction, chafing and overheating. But if you ride long enough for consecutive days you run the risk of little pimples developing into painful spots and eventually full-blown boils - a problem which has affected the performance of many pro riders. Moving position on the bike helps but the problem is that a lot of your weight is concentrated on a couple of pressure points where you are in contact with the saddle.

A healing product will help relieve saddle soreness and stop it developing into something worse, as will scrupulous cleaning of body and shorts. So antiseptic and anaesthetic products like Germolene, Savlon and (if you are willing to spend more money) Assos Skin Repair Gel are the things I would suggest the OP considers for post-ride care.

SME

Bepanthan worked for me when I got a little sore. Stopped riding for a few days too to allow time to heal.
Mind you, it is all I had in the cupboard after having my tattoos done!

DanielCoffey

Have a look at Conotrane Cream for post-ride use too. It is much lighter than Sudocrem, is mildly antiseptic and does not contain steroids.

It is usually offered for nappy rash and for adults who need care at home. It goes on lightly, rubs in well and does not leave the heavy greasy residue that Sudocrem does.

dennisn

sungod wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Pretty sure a new brand comes out once a week. Along with wondrous claims.

yep

how's the leg doing now, back on the bike yet?

Fine and yes. Thanx for asking.

coulddobetter

Metanium cream is excellent at healing . I would avoid hydrocortisone as it can actually end up thinning the skin ( with prolonged use ) with many creams people put far too much on. I am a nurse by the way.

Bo Duke

topcattim wrote:

Sudocrem. It's pure magic at healing things up but I haven't tried it as a chamois cream while riding.

+1.... I wouldn't use it for a ride, only for post ride healing.

mercia_man

coulddobetter wrote:

Metanium cream is excellent at healing . I would avoid hydrocortisone as it can actually end up thinning the skin ( with prolonged use ) with many creams people put far too much on. I am a nurse by the way.

Just read a good discussion about metanium v sudocrem on mumsnet. The verdict is that sudocrem is fine for day to day use to avoid soreness but metanium is fantastic for healing. I reckon metanium could be just the thing cyclists are looking for. Am off to buy some.

drlodge

+1 for sudocream, or other nappy creams like bepanthen for healing soreness *after* a ride.

For Chamois cream *during* a ride, I found bag balm works well, its also used on a cow's udder :shock:

webboo

That looks like used chip fat.

drlodge

webboo wrote:

That looks like used chip fat.

That's why I ended up with deep fried sausage and two pickled onions!

webboo

Have you tried breadcrumbs in your batter or even beer.

step83

Another vote for sudocreme for helping things heal. Chamois crème im still using a pot I got in a planet bundle smells lovely a little goes a long way.

Weirdly my friend never uses the stuff, but he is a full on shave everything weirdo so we can dismiss him.