Has anyone tried diaper cream?

[emily_in_nc]

My only concern is that I seem to remember hearing years ago that talc isn't good for the vaginal area for some reason. Whatever I read made me stop my baby powdering habit (this was pre-cycling days; I just thought it kept me baby fresh). Anyone else have something on this?

I'm just going from memory, but seems like a link was found with cancer -- cervical, perhaps?

Emily

[OakLeaf]

Real talc contains asbestos fibers, so obviously it's implicated in all kinds of cancers. I don't think you can even buy it any more though - read the labels, but AFAIK it's all cornstarch now.

Which, you can buy THAT in the baking aisle, without the irritating scents, for about a quarter of the price

[csr1210]

Sorry for the highjack, but I gotta know....

I do use some powder to deal with friction and minor moisture when I wear skirts, but I don't know how that would work for cycling. I mean, I produce a LOT of sweat on a ride. When I come back, my shorts, bra, and top will be completely soaked. I just figured a powder would only work until it got saturated -- which for me, would be about 10 minutes. Are any of you who use the powder heavy sweaters? Or does it still work when you are wet?

It's also weird to me that chamois are advertised as fast drying, etc.... Is is just me??? My chamois gets totally soaked when I ride, AND it's still wet an hour or two later when I go gather things up and get them in the washer.

Okay, back to your regular thread content....
Christy (the freakish sweating girl)

[Smilie]

I use powder, and it doesn't work with heavy workouts!

[Norse]

"...it's all cornstarch now...."

Interesting. I now recall that my Dad, who used to drive a delivery truck, and got very hot and sweaty running in and out of the truck with his deliveries, used to load up his bottom with cornstarch. Must have done something for him!

[csr1210]

"Real talc contains asbestos fibers, so obviously it's implicated in all kinds of cancers. I don't think you can even buy it any more though - read the labels, but AFAIK it's all cornstarch now."

Okay, now I'm concerned - my bottle of baby powder lists one ingrediant -- TALC! I am really hoping that this is somehow different from the talc of which you speak -- I use this stuff several times a week...maybe no longer?!

Thanks Smilie -- I thought maybe I was just very unusual with the powder/sweating thing.

[han-grrl]

OMG - i work in indoor air quality, and as far as i know, asbestos is barely used in ANYTHING any more, only in some very specific applications...

as for my "monkey butt"
i use the diaper rash stuff - works awesome...and prep H if i have any saddle sores, also works well.

I tried the diaper rash stuff as "preventative" measure when i was riding this weekend, and it seemed to work...no butt issues!

Real talc contains asbestos fibers, so obviously it's implicated in all kinds of cancers. I don't think you can even buy it any more though - read the labels, but AFAIK it's all cornstarch now.

Which, you can buy THAT in the baking aisle, without the irritating scents, for about a quarter of the price

[Miranda]

Oh heavens, I think one of my first posts on TE was about how in the world to get Desitin diaper rash ointment out of my bike shorts chamois. I even went to their web site, etc. My shorts are still in the closet ruined. Mine started to seep through on the black and I had skunk butt. It did indeed help the skin. I used it on my kids religiously, and it stuck to their skin like glue (in a good way). But, if I got it on the onsie... clothes toast. Now, I just use regular Chamois Buter. It doesn't last like Desitin, but I carry the packets, and put A LOT on to start.

[OakLeaf]

Nowadays talc is not likely to be contaminated with asbestos as it was in the past, but asbestiform fibers and quartz are still a concern. Here's a link to a meta-analysis of studies on the relationship between perineal use of talc and lung and ovarian cancer (pdf) - conclusion: limited evidence, possible carcinogenicity. I sure wouldn't use it.

[Norse]

I decided to try some some pure cornstarch for a 50 mile ride this weekend in heat with lots of hills. I found that it did help keep me drier throughout the ride and the next morning I did't find the usual crop of many new red bumps - a few yes, but my bottom was much happier than usual.

[Becky]

I'm currently experimenting with adding a little tea tree oil to my usual (aka whatever's on sale) chamois cream in order to keep the red bumps at bay. Tomorrow's commute will be the first on-bike test.

[RoadRaven]

A little late to the party... but a zinc and caster oil preparation from the chemist. In the baby section. Real cheap and extremely effective.

Maybe thats whats in all the "names" listed above - but this one has no special name, no extra smelly stuff and comes in a big plastic pot with a simple lable declaring "Zinc & Caster Oil".

Use it before races, and after also.

[sfa]

Boy, I wish I had read this thread earlier. I can't believe I bought a tube of Chamois Butt'r when I have a TUB of Boudreaux's butt paste in the house, and I've been known to use it before for chaffing. What was I thinking? Good stuff, that. And it washes out easily.

Cornstarch vs. talc--we used cornstarch powder on the kids because we were told it was safer, but then we discovered that cornstarch powder can lead to or exacerbate yeast infections since it gives the yeast something to feed on, so if you have a tendency towards yeast infections you might want to stay away from cornstarch in your shorts.

Sarah