Saddle Sores

+1 on the electric razor. Every single time I have tried a non-electric razor I break out in bumps worse than any saddle sores.

Agreed. Anything other than an electric razor turns my skin into braille!

Ok, so I have a really, really, really dumb question. :o I feel so much more comfortable asking you ladies than going to the quick clinic and dropping trouser to show a strange doctor.

I think I've developed a saddle sore. Been riding for 4 years and never had one. I also have never lubed up before rides, but certainly will now.
Like LPH said; it feels like an olive is trapped under my skin. It's not open, it's just big and sore. It's gotten bigger in the last couple days since it appeared. I've taken everyone's advice and have bought some prep H (hasn't worked so I'm off to buy acne cream today). Here's my really, really dumb question: can the saddle sore be on your lower labia (near the sit bones)? Soooo sorry if that's TMI. I just read a ton of stuff online and most sites indicated that saddle sores are on the buttocks or sit bones. Mine is not. It's close, but not.
Also- at what point do you go to the doctor, show him all your glory and get medical help? When it's been there and hurting for a week? Two?

Thanks for any help. I will try all the remedies listed here one at a time until I find relief or until I don't and break down and go to the doctor. It's not an open sore, so that's good I suppose.

I had them. They look like blood blisters, hard under the skin. I got into a tub and actually popped the first one. Then a little acne cream will dry it up. Mine was right where my upper thigh meets my crotch. I'm sure you can get them anywhere there's pressure.

hey Tri Girl, I think that different bodies must respond better or worse to different treatments. Acne cream, tea tree oil, antibiotic cream (including prescription) all did nothing for me (didn't try Prep H, will keep that in mind for next time). I got them even though I used Chamois Butt'r, Assos cream, and Hammer's saddle cream. But when I followed Levi Leipheimer's method and tried petroleum jelly, I finally had some relief.

In complete honesty, over the last year the only thing that really makes them go away completely, once they're there, is--time off the bike. It seems to take a week. Luckily (?) every once in awhile I have to leave my bike behind for work-related travel, so a week/ten days off the bike can happen!

I've done a lot of reading on the subject because I've just started having problems with saddle sores. According to what I've read, most saddle sores are actually boils. I've found that if I soak in a hot tub, it helps bring the boil to a head. Once the boil has a very defined head, I pop it with a sterile needle, wash the area around it with Hibiclens and then apply lots of triple antibiotic cream and cover it with a band-aid. I change the band-aid and add more triple antibiotic cream daily. It's amazing how quickly the boil quits hurting once it is drained. One word of caution, don't try to drain a boil that hasn't "come to a head."

I've developed some chafing and finally figured out today on my ride that it's the position of my seat so I'll have to make some adjustments and see how that works out for me.

Anyway I have this book which I really like and recommend it's by Gale Bernhardt and titled "The Female Cyclist, Gearing up a level". I'll share with you what she has to say on the subject, pages 283-285.

SADDLE SORES

Sores in the groin, upper leg and butt area can be a nuisance--or worse, force you to take time off the bike. The best teartment for saddle sores is preventing them. The most common sores include blocked or infected glands, which show up as lumps; pain in the pelvic bone area where your weight may be resting; and chafing problems.

PREVENTION

Be certain your bike is set up correctly by referring to Chapter 3. a saddle that is too high can cause the rider to reach too far for the pedals causing either pressure or chafing. A saddle that is too low doesn't allow the legs to support the body and puts excess pressures directily on your crotch--ouch!

To help prevent chafing, slather your genital area and upper thigh with a good emollient such as petroleum jelly. A relatively new product on the market is Sport Slick™, which combines the lubrication of Vaseline™ with anitfungal properties.

Wear padded cycling shorts without underwear. Cycling shorts are designed to reduced friction from seams and give you some padding to help reduce pressure on sensitive areas.

After the ride, get out of those dirty shorts. Good hygine is essential. Wash your crotch and don't wear those shorts again until they have been cleaned.

Don't suddenly increase weekly or daily mileage on the bike.

If you shave the upper leg and lower torso, a light application of antibiotic ointment after shaving may help prevent red spots and infected bumps.

Be certain the bike seat isn't tilted too far up or down, causing pressure or making you constantly push back in the saddle.

If problems persist, a different saddle may help, especially one with a soft or cutout area near the nose.

SELF TREATMENT

Soaking in comfortably hot bath water one to three times per day with help boils surface and drain.

Antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin™ aid in healing.

Moleskin with an area cut out around the sore may help keep pressure off the sore itself.

I hope this is useful to you gals I know the information has helped me a great deal over the years with saddle sores.

Happy pedaling!

Thanks for the help, ladies! This morning it's started "oozing" (sorry- that word grosses me out). I'm going to soak in a hot bath and try to get it to healing. Thanks again for all your help. I really, really don't want to go to the doctor.