Rash from Chamois?

[sunshineme]

I've been struggling with this problem for a few weeks and its getting frustrating. I can't seem to find anyone with the same situation, so if you have any suggestions, I would really appreciate it!

A few weeks ago after a couple of days of riding back to back and getting caught in the rain one of those days I got a rash after riding. There aren't any bumps and its not saddle sores. Just red and swollen and extremely painful, especially at the junction between my thigh and girl parts. To a smaller degree on the girl parts. I took a few days off and it improved until I got back on the bike and it flared back up. Doc thought it might be an infection so I went on antibiotics. Again it got better...until I road. And then it was just as bad as before. Doc says it seems to be an allergy.

So after letting it heal again (about 5 days of no biking or exercise) I went out today. I wore brand new shorts so I know there is no leftover chammy cream on them (I had switched to hoo ha glide cream a few weeks before this happened). I washed them in fragrance-free/dye-free detergent. My usual shorts are Terry brand and these ones were PI. And yet it still happened! I was only out for 40 minutes. The rash is only in areas where my body touches the chamois.

Anyone have a suggestion? I'm training hard for a big ride and can't afford any more time off the bike.

Thanks!

[kajero]

Could something have happened to your bike seat when you got caught in the rain? When you sit down on the chamois perhaps something might be coming through from the bike seat. Also, why not try a few rides with regular clothes and see what happens. You might be able to narrow it down to see if it is actually the chamois or something else.

[Owlie]

Side or back of your thigh? Is it raw?
Try something: put on a clean pair of bike shorts and just do some household work or something. That'll tell you if it's the chamois or the bike.
Personally, I'm willing to say that if it's closer to the back of your thigh, it's chafing from the saddle. I get something similar if the saddle is too "pear-shaped" (ie, the "flare" from the nose to the "sit spot" is too gradual) so that it rubs my leg when I pedal...Especially if the edge of the chamois happens to be right in that area.

If it's closer to the side, it may be irritation from the edges of the chamois. Chamois cream, something like Body Glide or different shorts (are the PI and Terry chamois similar?) might help you there.

Here's some reading for you:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475