The Bike Doc 250+
Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 1398 Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:35 am GMT +0000 Post subject: |
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sinbash:
You are in the right place. You likely have a combination of a saddle sore from chafing and a secondary fungal infection, tinea cruris. Two things you need to do. Treat the fungal infection with a topical fungicide such as clotrimazole (Lotrimin) or terbinafine (Lamisil) which can be bought over the counter. You should apply the antifungal according to directions (clotrimazole twice a day terbinafine once a day) after cleaning the area and allowing to dry. Apply the antifungal until one week after all the rash has resolved. If there is failure to improve within one week or if there is increased redness, swelling, fever or pain get an immediate medical evaluation.
Now for the second and seemingly harder thing to help prevent this from recurring: get a set of well made form fitting bicycle shorts. The lycra shorts and cycling specific pad help protect you from chafing and saddle sores. I have found that by using a pair of unpadded liner shorts such as Duofold coolmax-lycra boxers http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39172747&memberId=12500226 underneath the bicycle shorts helps further reduce chafing and prevent saddle sores. Lycra bike shorts are functional and beneficial. Do not worry about how you may look in them. Other informed cyclist know the benefits of lycra bike shorts and if you keep up your riding, you may someday find you start to look good in them. (The are much more effective than a 6 pack of brewskis!)
If you find that conventional bicycle seats and riding possition difficult to adapt to, consider recumbent bicycles. See the following article I wrote on recumbents: http://www.bikeroute.com/BentMedBenefits.html
Thanks, _________________ Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc |
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