Serious chafing - non bike-related

I've got a problem that I've tried to solve for months and nothing seems to work, obviously I just haven't found the solution.

I've some serious chafing in my undercarriage area, but it isn't chamois or saddle related - for which I am most very thankful. Indeed the bike doesn't impact it at all. It is further north than that, where the stomach transitions to the pubic area - right at that very edge.

Has anyone else had this? Did you find a solution? Any kind of cream or lotion just stings something terrible, and I am afraid that powder of any kind wouldn't help outside of making a mess. I've even thought about diaper rash cream when I've been most frustrated with this but that is for a different purpose entirely. Tips or tricks?

No seams or elastic hit me there...

You might want to see a doc. I've had some topical infections (don't know if they were fungal or bacterial), and they didn't clear until I got the appropriate cream (steriod/something?). One summer, I had one that just wouldn't go away. I would also try to keep it as open and breathable as possible (as you would with saddle issues) - i.e., sleep in a nightshirt and pass on undergarments.

Otherwise - no idea.:confused::confused: That sounds miserable.

Might it possibly be a heat rash? I've started to develop one on my chest under my bra line, along the rib cage on the left. Despite not being a "chafing" prone area, it's one that probably collects sweat, and might need some additional air, perhaps?

The doc idea isn't a bad one, either...

Yeah, the doc might be a good idea. Sigh...

It's been going on for a long time, and I used to think it had to do with my very large weight loss but am beginning to wonder. I was curious if anyone here was familiar with something like this. I hate to spend a co-pay on it but you know, sometimes ya gotta do it!

I got some really crazy chafing at the top of my butt crack from doing a bazillion crunches with a certain pair of tights....I still have scarring from it. I told my trainer and she was all "Yeah, that happens sometimes". That was a new one on me.

Maybe a fungal or yeast infection. Try something with clotrimazole in it, like Lotrimin. That is what my doc recommended to me when I had a similar problem to what you describe. It was a bear to get ride of.

A former client of mine was prone to yeast infections in that area. I second trying an antifungal, if you haven't already.

Good idea about an anti-fungal, I will pick one up tomorrow. Hadn't thought about trying that route, can't hurt! Thanks for the idea! As long as this has been going on that would make sense, and those things don't go away by themselves. If this doesn't work in a reasonable time period I will see my doctor. I've allowed embarrassment to make me ignore this for many months too long :o

I was giggling as I pictured you riding your bike in a loose Muu Muu. I remember when my DS was a baby and I thought he had diaper rash and my Mom looked at it and knew right away it was yeast infection. Air and a good anti fungal cream cleared it up right away

When you say chafing, do you mean that you have a rash or just raw skin? Does it itch?

When I was trending toward over-suppression with my anti-thyroid medicine, i.e., when I was trending towards mild hypothyroidism, I had a somewhat persistent itchy rash on my lower stomach. It's not an uncommon side effect of being hypo. Is it possible that your levels are off?

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Good idea about an anti-fungal, I will pick one up tomorrow. Hadn't thought about trying that route, can't hurt!

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Unless you are allergic to it, like I am. Which I unfortunately found out when my little greyhound puppy had ringworm and I had to apply it to his lesions twice daily plus bathe him in ketoconazole shampoo. I have a small lesion on my skin as well in a weird place - halfway down the inside of my right forearm - but it doesn't spread or change, it just flakes off skin and looks red and angry. And itches sometimes. I've tried just about everything and it won't go away.

And keep in mind if you try OTC stuff - if you think it's fungal, it will take a while to resolve. If it's not fungal, then my next step would be to use a cortisone cream. It may not cure it but you can see if the inflammation can go down enough your body can get a handle on it.

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Originally Posted by Sky King

I was giggling as I pictured you riding your bike in a loose Muu Muu. I remember when my DS was a baby and I thought he had diaper rash and my Mom looked at it and knew right away it was yeast infection. Air and a good anti fungal cream cleared it up right away

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:) Sky King - I can see me in a Muu Muu on the mtb trail :)

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Originally Posted by indysteel

When you say chafing, do you mean that you have a rash or just raw skin? Does it itch?

When I was trending toward over-suppression with my anti-thyroid medicine, i.e., when I was trending towards mild hypothyroidism, I had a somewhat persistent itchy rash on my lower stomach. It's not an uncommon side effect of being hypo. Is it possible that your levels are off?

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No apparent rash, lots of redness, raw skin sometimes, sometimes it itches terribly, sometimes not at all. It comes and goes but never goes all the way. It was painful and quite aggravated in the shower Sunday after my 2 hour mtb ride so I suspect that some portion of my shorts or perhaps the upper edge of my chamois was hitting it. I am more bent over on the mtb than on my Gunnar.

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Originally Posted by westtexas

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And keep in mind if you try OTC stuff - if you think it's fungal, it will take a while to resolve. If it's not fungal, then my next step would be to use a cortisone cream. It may not cure it but you can see if the inflammation can go down enough your body can get a handle on it.

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Thanks Westtexas, I don't think I am allergic to it. I have a VERY strong cortisone cream I use for psoriasis but I would visit my doctor before considering using it down there :eek: It is too close to my girly bits...If the anti-fungal I just picked up doesn't really help I will head to my doctor...

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Originally Posted by Catrin

.... I used to think it had to do with my very large weight loss but am beginning to wonder.

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I am proud of your weight loss! Amazing what biking can do for your health.:D
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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

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Originally Posted by TigerMom

I am proud of your weight loss! Amazing what biking can do for your health.:D

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Biking and weights and biking and spinning class and biking and cross-training and biking and eating properly...

:cool:

I didn't clarify in my last post that not all anti-fungal products target every fungus. Some get the yeast ones and some don't. The ones with clotrimazole will get most of the fungi, including yeast, according to my doc.

I had such an issue with itching and the external yeast infection that I had to apply the antifungal and then on top of it use cortisone cream. I did that twice a day for a month.

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Originally Posted by goldfinch

I didn't clarify in my last post that not all anti-fungal products target every fungus. Some get the yeast ones and some don't. The ones with clotrimazole will get most of the fungi, including yeast, according to my doc.

I had such an issue with itching and the external yeast infection that I had to apply the antifungal and then on top of it use cortisone cream. I did that twice a day for a month.

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I am so glad I got past my embarrassment and just asked if others have had this experience as I hadn't considered that it might be an external yeast infection. I did get one with clotrimazole - they had another one that was supposed to be stronger but it didn't have clotrimazole. Hopefully this will have an effect, this is been a lengthy problem so I don't expect it to go away in a week or two.