Rash from Bike Shorts

[jcl531]

I started seriously riding this summer. The problem I'm having is that the last two times I've gotten off the bike after longer rides, I have a terrible rash on my thighs right where the bike shorts start above the knee, going up my thigh about six inches. It is not at all itchy, but red, raised and blotchy. Does anyone have any idea what's causing this? Thanks

[Catrin]

I started seriously riding this summer. The problem I'm having is that the last two times I've gotten off the bike after longer rides, I have a terrible rash on my thighs right where the bike shorts start above the knee, going up my thigh about six inches. It is not at all itchy, but red, raised and blotchy. Does anyone have any idea what's causing this? Thanks

Sounds like a heat rash to me, I had this problem last year though not this season (and I am wearing the same shorts).

Are you hydrating enough before/during your rides? Are you riding in the heat of the day? At least for me it happened when I simply had to ride during the hottest part of the day.

[jcl531]

Yes, it was really hot, rode from 11 - 2:30. I read somewhere else that it could be rubber in the shorts or latex, although I've never had a latex allergy. Just really strange. Thanks for the reply. Might just be the heat.

[bluebug32]

I've had that problem with some shorts too. The gripper will run against my legs, causing a small rash. Maybe try a pair of shorts without the gip. I've found a few and that has solved the problem for me.

[Catrin]

Yes, it was really hot, rode from 11 - 2:30. I read somewhere else that it could be rubber in the shorts or latex, although I've never had a latex allergy. Just really strange. Thanks for the reply. Might just be the heat.

For me that is all it was, or perhaps the combination of the gripper and the high heat. I still wear the same shorts - and it is hotter this year - but no repeat of the problem but I now ride in the evening or morning.

[Owlie]

I've never had the problem with any of my shorts, but a combination of sweat and whatever that plastic they use in flip-flop straps is has given me a rash on the tops of my feet.

I was also really prone to heat rash as a kid. It's been bad this year--remember to stay hydrated!

[bellissima]

I started seriously riding this summer. The problem I'm having is that the last two times I've gotten off the bike after longer rides, I have a terrible rash on my thighs right where the bike shorts start above the knee, going up my thigh about six inches. It is not at all itchy, but red, raised and blotchy. Does anyone have any idea what's causing this? Thanks

If your Shorts have silicone leg grippers that is most likely the cause.

[RubyTuesday]

I will be Captain Obvious here and ask if you have changed the detergent you are using for laundry. If the latex is old or silicone is older in your shorts, it might just be breaking down a bit and causing a rash. Are you shaving higher on your legs since starting to wear shorts and the growing in hairs are irritating the area?

I know, dumb ideas, but sometimes simple is the most obvious answer. You could try putting some vaseline on the area before you ride and see if it helps.

[nscrbug]

I get this with certain shorts...infact I got it after today's ride (was wearing PI shorts with the old-style grippers). Red, raised, splotchy welts that do NOT itch and are situated right where the grippers sit on my thighs. It doesn't look very pretty, but it does eventually go away within a day or two.

[OakLeaf]

When I get gripper rash it's only directly under the gripper.

I can get a heat rash under my bra and socks after long runs in hot weather. Sounds exactly like yours - no itching, I'm not aware of it until I take the garment off and see it, red and blotchy. I suspect my detergent, but haven't really been motivated to change.

[zoom-zoom]

If your Shorts have silicone leg grippers that is most likely the cause.

I'd be surprised if silicone caused a reaction like that...but if they are latex it could be an allergy. Heat rash does sound like the potential culprit, too. I've been known to have eczema issues on my hands after long rides...I'm pretty much allergic to my own sweat and all that sweat trapped under my gloves makes for really irritated hands that will peel a day or two after a hot, long ride.

[OakLeaf]

I've been known to have eczema issues on my hands after long rides...I'm pretty much allergic to my own sweat and all that sweat trapped under my gloves makes for really irritated hands that will peel a day or two after a hot, long ride.

Kind of a hijack ... but was it a dermatologist that told you that? When the humidity is high (including any time I wear gloves in warm weather) I get dyshidrosis on my hands (and to a lesser extent on my feet and forehead), which is a form of eczema. It got its name because they used to think it was a sweat disorder, but it turns out it really isn't. Ambient humidity alone can trigger it. I especially get it at the change of seasons, and then adapt a bit to the humidity. There's often a stress component too, like most auto-immune issues.

The heat rash I get is nothing like that, though. Two different animals.

[zoom-zoom]

Kind of a hijack ... but was it a dermatologist that told you that? When the humidity is high (including any time I wear gloves in warm weather) I get dyshidrosis on my hands (and to a lesser extent on my feet and forehead), which is a form of eczema. It got its name because they used to think it was a sweat disorder, but it turns out it really isn't. Ambient humidity alone can trigger it. I especially get it at the change of seasons, and then adapt a bit to the humidity. There's often a stress component too, like most auto-immune issues.

The heat rash I get is nothing like that, though. Two different animals.

I always just assumed it was eczema, since I get it above my eyes if I don't wear a wicking headcover of some sort if I'm sweating a lot. I'm going to have to look into dyshidrosis.

[jcl531]

Haven't changed my laundry detergent in a very long time. And the rash is not just where the rubber grip part is at the edge of the short. On one leg it starts there and goes up the thigh about six inches or so. On the other leg it is very minimal, and mid-thigh. Maybe it is the heat, but it's really strange.

[Kiwi Stoker]

I get this too. I actually got a blister welt on one leg with lots of red dots further up. They weren't itchy but sore and hot to touch. So I am not sure if it's an allergy to the gripper (which is silicone)

I suspect it was a combination of heat, sweat and the grippers rubbing on my skin to form the blisters but I don't know what causes the red raised dots further up my legs.

[Crankin]

I get deep, red lines, irritation every place a waistband, bra, grippers etc touches me. It takes hours for it to go away. Even my socks cause a slight line. I just live with it. It's allergy related, gets worse when I'm under stress, or having a real allergy thing. It seems to get more "reactive" at times and I have no idea why. No allergist has ever figured it out. I can just brush my hand on my skin or normally scratch an itch and I will have marks for a day.

[ny biker]

I get deep, red lines, irritation every place a waistband, bra, grippers etc touches me. It takes hours for it to go away. Even my socks cause a slight line. I just live with it. It's allergy related, gets worse when I'm under stress, or having a real allergy thing. It seems to get more "reactive" at times and I have no idea why. No allergist has ever figured it out. I can just brush my hand on my skin or normally scratch an itch and I will have marks for a day.

Dermatographia. I have this too.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/Dermatographia/DS00755

When I had several food allleric reactions last year, they were a combination of this and hives -- the hives broke out in places where there was pressure and irritation from elastic, wrinkled clothes and seams pressing against my skin, stuff like that.

But I have always had deep red marks from waistbands, elastic bands, edges of things pressing on my skin. When I wake up every morning I have red lines from wrinkles in my sheets and pajamas pressing on me.

[beccaB]

I get those "hives" too from the silicone leg grippers. It's irritating, but I can't do much about it. It really only happens on century rides when it's hot. I also get winter hives, so I have to dress warmer on my legs in the cold that I want to. I rubbed ice on my elbow tendonitis and noticed it was giving me hives. About the shorts, I found a PI pair that doesn't have silicone in the grippers, but the compression isn't as good. I like the way the compression feels, so I will have to compromise I guess.

[denda]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I get the same thing in the heat. It is not caused by grippers in the shorts. My new shorts do not have grippers and it still happens. I will also get it right above my sock line. It doesn't itch, it just looks bad:)