Chafing and an Embarrassing Rash

[RogerThat]

I was discussing cycling with a colleague the other day and she told me about this quite odd case. I've actually experienced it myself and was only glad when it cleared up naturally.

A cyclist presented with a long term rash between the thighs on either side of the groin. The red and raw kind. After several weeks of testing for the usual culprits : thrush, eczema, STD ect my colleague prescribed first a course of light steroidal cream, then a few topical creams then finally antibiotics. Nothing seemed to work and it returned time and again. The only noticeable thing about the patient was excessive sweating. So, another (very experienced) cyclist suggested that the problem might be in keeping the area cool and dry (bacteria only really thrive in the opposite conditions). So a daily routine of 'airing' in the morning, baggy shorts and regular drying with a towel and only washing the area once every two days and within a fortnight it was completely gone, never to return. My colleague is still none the wiser as to the genesis of the rash, but has successfully treated dozens since with the same complaint.

Have you experienced similar?

[Vorpal]

I've had similar (no chafing, just a rash), about 15 years ago. Mine was awkward to solve because I didn't have any problem when cycling, or even immediately after. It turned up when I was sleeping, so I woke up with a rash. My GP got me to change soap and laundry powder, and prescribed a steroid cream, then sent me to an allergist when those things didn't help. The allergist told me to stop using the steroid cream, and took me through various things to try and find the solution. I think I figured out by chance that the cause was lounging around in sweaty cycling shorts. Neither the GP nor the allergist had asked the right questions, but when I discussed it with the allergist, he agreed with my conclusion.

[RogerThat]

It was the same for me. It just appeared at random, then more frequently after waking. Nothing seemed to shift it, in fact regular washing and towelling only seemed to exacerbate it. It's not surprising it appeared after sleep, as we're immobile for a relatively long period and generally running quite 'hot' dispersing toxins in the body. I generally find hot+moist for any extended period and bacteria will win a small war. This can be a difficult war to win as the various bacteria then transfer to our clothing /towels and living habitats. As a rule I boil wash all my cycling clothes. I tend to sleep with the window open for most of the year, which should provide me cool + dry as I sleep. It also improves my sleep pattern as I get quite congested with closed windows. Mrs That is not so convinced. But I'm working on it

[maxcherry]

Your skin gets irritated, then you wash and eventually go to bed covering yourself up and sweating and moving around through the nigt. I presume that not everyone sleeps with there legs open and airs themselves through the night.

Under the sheets is a breading ground for a lot of things

[SimonCelsa]

This was a common complaint for young Merchant Navy seafarers when entering the tropics. Working in humid sweaty engine rooms or even out on deck in sultry climes. It's just basic 'Jock itch' or 'dhobi rash' and was exacerbated by wearing tight fitting ballbags all day & not rinsing them properly after washing. It was easily cured by rinsing your clothes properly, switching to cotton boxers, walking bowlegged & liberal application of Benzoic Acid solution (Whitfields ointment I recollect).

I never thought that simple complaint would cause the medical professional any prognosis headaches. All we had as reference (and still have at sea) was a text book called the 'Ship Captains Medical Guide' which tended to focus on the 'crotch related' diseases of seafarers (with vivid colour pictorial descriptions) so perhaps we were at an advantage!

All the best, Simon