Problem with boils

I feel I have to step in as I noticed everyone inferring the original poster
had a personal hygiene problem... the problem the chap mentions sounds very
similar to mine and in my case I get these now and again due to ingrowing
hair follicle at a saddle pressure-point. The problem is more likely if you
have taken a razor to your nether-regions in order to experience that
oh-so-silky skin texture down-under. When these trimmed hairs begin to grow
back there is increased risk of in-growing at the pressure points. I am
seriously considering leaving the undergrowth as nature intended :-)

"John Forrest Tomlinson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Paul Cassel said:

I know I can just wait them out and it'll take about 10 days to resolve.
Can anyone suggest a quicker way to get rid of these things?

If you insist on riding, a hole in the saddle underneath where the
boil is will help. Cut the saddle with a utility knife or box cutter.

JT

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Gary Smiley said:

All you have to do is: when you finish a ride, take a shower, and throw all
your bike clothes into the wash or the hamper).

My current apartment doesn't have a washing machine. I haven't gotten
the round tuits to buy a washing machine yet since a neighbor lets me
use his. But this is a once a week sort of thing.

My method:

Finish ride.
Take gear out of rear pockets.
Turn on shower.
Get undressed.

-M

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Gary Smiley said:

All you have to do is: when you finish a ride, take a shower, and throw all
your bike clothes into the wash or the hamper).

My current apartment doesn't have a washing machine. I haven't gotten
the round tuits to buy a washing machine yet since a neighbor lets me
use his. But this is a once a week sort of thing.

Use the sink, then, and some Woolite. Fill the sink with cold water and
a capful of soap, soak your shorts for 30 minutes or so, agitate once or
twice by hand, then rinse thoroughly and hang inside-out to dry.

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email hidden]
(_)/ (_)

I am surprised that some of you still seem to feel that it is necessary
to shave your pubic hair in order to get that silky smooth feeling down
under! Haven't you heard of the Pubic Hair Straightening Comb from
Peenman Enterprises? It is advertised on Art Bell's Coast-to-Coast AM
radio show all the time, and is a most excellent product.

I don't know about you, but around our household we have very
tightly-wound, curly pubic hair.

When the world goes to hell in a handbasket after The Quickening, amid
the armageddon that is sure to follow when all of the world's resources
have been spent on armaments, and there remains neither food nor any
semblance of civilization amid the nuclear holocuaust and the nuclear
winter that we will all eventually be stumbling through, don't be
caught without your Pubic Hair Straightening Comb from Peenman
Enterprises. When we suffer a complete breakdown of the monetary
system, and everyone is walking around the landfill trying to find some
rotten scrap of food to eat, wandering and staggering through the
nuclear waste with mere rags hanging off our bodies and our children
starving, and all of the world's nuclear arsenals are dumped on all of
the major developing countries of the world and we are left with
nothing more than a worldwide hazardous nuclear waste dump, you will be
very glad to have pubic hairs that lie flat and don't rub against your
clothing, causing needless irritation. You can even part them in the
middle if you want to. That's quite the fashion these days.

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Robin Hubert said:

That's nice but it's been suggested that (mostly unnecessary)
prophylactic antibiotic use leads to development of super drug resistant
bacteria. In that sense, it is not a good idea.

Anyway, you've all got it wrong. The boils don't develop from normal
skin flora, but from compromised tissues. That is, ischemia and
masseration of hypoxic tissues leads to tissue breakdown and consequent
bacterial opportunity. So, the secret is to limit the amount of ischemia
and friction your skin suffers.

Normal hygeine, chamois lube, good fitting, good quality shorts, good
bike fit, good saddle, and knowing how to get your ass off the saddle
every now and then helps ... should do the job.

Perhaps that's what set me up. I got a new for me mtn bike after mine was
stolen. The seat was terrible. The saddle I wanted to use was in use on
loan to my buddy. Until he got a new one and gave me my good saddle back,
I used a saddle which made me miserable. Right after is when the problem
surfaced.

OTOH, most of what I read about boils discuss them on the neck and other
non-load bearing areas so there must be more to these things than just
from bad saddles or ill fitting shorts.

-paul

I never dealt with boils but I always grease the area with vaseline.
Protected me as a runner though in different areas,
at long karate workouts in the same area,
and now on a bike. Maybe it's no good for the chamois but I wear
wicking underwear. I learned that that area doesn't air dry very well
and nothing protects like good ole vaseline.

If you are wearing understuff don't wear cotton. It never dries and
the salt from sweat gets abrasive after a while.

"Marian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gary Smiley said:

All you have to do is: when you finish a ride, take a shower, and throw

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your bike clothes into the wash or the hamper).

My current apartment doesn't have a washing machine. I haven't gotten
the round tuits to buy a washing machine yet since a neighbor lets me
use his. But this is a once a week sort of thing.

My method:

Finish ride.
Take gear out of rear pockets.
Turn on shower.
Get undressed.

Mine:

Pick a pair of shorts from dark musty basement closet.
Ride.
Finish ride.
Undress.
Shower.
Throw shorts in dark musty basement closet.

Next ride:

Pick a pair of shorts from dark musty basement closet.
Ride.
Finish ride.
Undress.
Shower.
Throw shorts in dark musty basement closet.

Repeat until I ride through a pile of farm animal waste on a mtn bike ride.
Wash pile of shorts. Hell, I wash my gloves more often than my shorts
because I like the better grip of clean dry gloves.

Greg

JP said:

"Paul Cassel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Robin Hubert said:

That's nice but it's been suggested that (mostly unnecessary)
prophylactic antibiotic use leads to development of super drug resistant
bacteria. In that sense, it is not a good idea.

Anyway, you've all got it wrong. The boils don't develop from normal
skin flora, but from compromised tissues. That is, ischemia and
masseration of hypoxic tissues leads to tissue breakdown and consequent
bacterial opportunity. So, the secret is to limit the amount of ischemia
and friction your skin suffers.

Normal hygeine, chamois lube, good fitting, good quality shorts, good
bike fit, good saddle, and knowing how to get your ass off the saddle
every now and then helps ... should do the job.

Perhaps that's what set me up. I got a new for me mtn bike after mine was
stolen. The seat was terrible. The saddle I wanted to use was in use on
loan to my buddy. Until he got a new one and gave me my good saddle back,
I used a saddle which made me miserable. Right after is when the problem
surfaced.

OTOH, most of what I read about boils discuss them on the neck and other
non-load bearing areas so there must be more to these things than just
from bad saddles or ill fitting shorts.

-paul

I never dealt with boils but I always grease the area with vaseline.

I began doing this about 10 years ago, after reading some advice from
a dermatologist. Clean the area well with rubbing alcohol, dry
throughly, apply a light coat of vaseline and go ride. I've only had
one boil since beginning this regimen.

Quoted message said:

Protected me as a runner though in different areas,
at long karate workouts in the same area,
and now on a bike. Maybe it's no good for the chamois but I wear
wicking underwear. I learned that that area doesn't air dry very well
and nothing protects like good ole vaseline.

If you are wearing understuff don't wear cotton. It never dries and
the salt from sweat gets abrasive after a while.

JP said:

I never dealt with boils but I always grease the area with vaseline.
Protected me as a runner though in different areas,
at long karate workouts in the same area,
and now on a bike. Maybe it's no good for the chamois but I wear
wicking underwear. I learned that that area doesn't air dry very well
and nothing protects like good ole vaseline.

Actually, diaper rash ointment (A&D) works better because it contains
lanolin in addition to Vaseline -- more durable waterproofing. It's the
waterproofing that protects the skin from softening from dampness.

Why use underwear with shorts?

G.T. said:

Mine:

Pick a pair of shorts from dark musty basement closet.
Ride.
Finish ride.
Undress.
Shower.
Throw shorts in dark musty basement closet.

Next ride:

Pick a pair of shorts from dark musty basement closet.
Ride.
Finish ride.
Undress.
Shower.
Throw shorts in dark musty basement closet.

Repeat until I ride through a pile of farm animal waste on a mtn bike ride.
Wash pile of shorts. Hell, I wash my gloves more often than my shorts
because I like the better grip of clean dry gloves.

Note to self: never stoke Greg's tandem.

--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu

Everyone confesses that exertion which brings out all the powers of body
and mind is the best thing for us; but most people do all they can to
get rid of it, and as a general rule nobody does much more than
circumstances drive them to do. -Harriet Beecher Stowe, abolitionist and
novelist (1811-1896)

dvt said:

G.T. said:

Mine:

Pick a pair of shorts from dark musty basement closet.
Ride.
Finish ride.
Undress.
Shower.
Throw shorts in dark musty basement closet.

Next ride:

Pick a pair of shorts from dark musty basement closet.
Ride.
Finish ride.
Undress.
Shower.
Throw shorts in dark musty basement closet.

Repeat until I ride through a pile of farm animal waste on a mtn
bike ride. Wash pile of shorts. Hell, I wash my gloves more often
than my shorts because I like the better grip of clean dry gloves.

Note to self: never stoke Greg's tandem.

Couldn't you find a better way to word that? LOL

a mirror is used!
lanceing is recommended - gives the hydrogen peroxide a start

Bill Sornson said:

dvt said:

Note to self: never stoke Greg's tandem.

Couldn't you find a better way to word that? LOL

Ewww. Another mental image I could do without. Zero points to Sorni for
his gutter brain.

--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu

Everyone confesses that exertion which brings out all the powers of body
and mind is the best thing for us; but most people do all they can to
get rid of it, and as a general rule nobody does much more than
circumstances drive them to do. -Harriet Beecher Stowe, abolitionist and
novelist (1811-1896)

dvt said:

Bill Sornson said:

dvt said:

Note to self: never stoke Greg's tandem.

Couldn't you find a better way to word that? LOL

Ewww. Another mental image I could do without. Zero points to Sorni
for his gutter brain.

{blush}

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

JP said:

I never dealt with boils but I always grease the area with vaseline.
Protected me as a runner though in different areas,
at long karate workouts in the same area,
and now on a bike. Maybe it's no good for the chamois but I wear
wicking underwear. I learned that that area doesn't air dry very well
and nothing protects like good ole vaseline.

Actually, diaper rash ointment (A&D) works better because it contains
lanolin in addition to Vaseline -- more durable waterproofing. It's the
waterproofing that protects the skin from softening from dampness.

Why use underwear with shorts?

Because I have wicking ones from my old running days,
they help keep the sack where I adjust it so's I don't
sit on it, and I just feel more secure.

I have A&D left over from the diaper changing days
and if its handy I'll use it but I never found a difference.
Vaseline kept me chafe free for 10+ mile summer runs for years.
I'd rather not smell like a baby's butt if I can avoid it.
Vaseline is also cheaper but considering how much I spend
on other stuff that's not a logical reason.

Quoted message said:

a mirror is used!
lanceing is recommended - gives the hydrogen peroxide a start

But the target must be precise! Asunder!

Robin Hubert

Five years ago, I took a few years off riding. When I resumed, I got
saddle-sores. I could not stand the saddles I had from before. I
tried most every seat on the freakin market. Now I'm riding a Selle
Italia ProLink and a TricoSports SplitRail. The Trico SpliRail is the
best by far and also the hardest.

Keep trying different saddles. Unfortunately it often costs $20 to try
them ($10 for shipping then a $10 hit when u sell it for less than u
bought it) but it is worth it. Make sure to take it on a 70 mile ride
because you can't tell from 10 or 20 what it will feel like after 50 or
60.

Good luck

For Sale:
Selle Italia SLK, used for 200 miles, as new $50
Selle Italia Flite TransAm Ti, early model, no gel, very firm, exc
cond. $40
Selle San Marco Era/Luxe, blue top, very good cond. $40

Robin Hubert said:

Anyway, you've all got it wrong. The boils don't develop from normal
skin flora, but from compromised tissues. That is, ischemia and
masseration of hypoxic tissues leads to tissue breakdown and consequent
bacterial opportunity. So, the secret is to limit the amount of
ischemia and friction your skin suffers.

Normal hygeine, chamois lube, good fitting, good quality shorts, good
bike fit, good saddle, and knowing how to get your ass off the saddle
every now and then helps ... should do the job.

Robin Hubert

You're right, but as you can see, hundreds of remedies for a cleaner
[censored] will keep on flowing in and the truth will be obscured. In my
experience, 99% of saddle sores can be attributed to ischemia. Only
once have I had friction wounds and that followed a few days of long
off-road rides in the rain. Grit worked its way into our shorts through
muddy water and by dropping in from contaminated shirts when taking a
leak, settling right into the crotch area. It felt like sandpaper and
the result was that of sandpaper - an abraded sitting area. However,
this scabbed up very quickly - overnight in fact, and caused us no
discomfort.

I don't think friction is a big problem in cycling. I've seen
anti-friction balms come onto the market but I predict they'll settle
into use with runners, where armpit friction is a real problem. But
then again, any cream will work.

As you say, the solution is to stand every now and again and allow the
blood to flow. Riding lots seems to bring about some immunity, but only
for a given saddle, change saddles/bikes and you start all over again.

Johan Bornman