Serious chafing - non bike-related

[Irulan]

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.

[goldfinch]

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.

[OakLeaf]

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

[Catrin]

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

[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

[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?

[westtexas]

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

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.

[Catrin]

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

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

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?

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.

...
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.

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 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...