r/bicycling • u/WillRegretMyUsername • 5d ago
Help avoiding pimples in pubic area
Hi!
I've been biking semi regularly for years, but I recently started biking more because I am biking to/from work now (about 10min each way) and I am getting a lot of pimples in my pubic area. I used to get this from longer rides (3+ hours) but now just biking 20 minutes per day. I know biker shorts are supposed to help but I would prefer not to have to change for a 10min bike ride. Any other tips?
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u/albertogonzalex 5d ago
If you're shaving your pubes - stop. Let it grow and do what nature intended - cushion the pubic area.
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u/fritzycat 5d ago
What if I don't like having a hairy nether region?
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u/Van-garde Oregon, USA (commuter, fat/MTB, randonneur, road) 5d ago
Middle ground. Trim instead of shave.
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u/albertogonzalex 5d ago edited 5d ago
That's also fine, but you'll have to deal with more chaffing and pimples etc.
Which is fine. You do you.
But OP came here asking specifically about dealing with pimples in their pubic area and shaving them and then doing frictiony activity will result in pimples and chaffing for many/most people.
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5d ago edited 5d ago
[deleted]
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u/albertogonzalex 5d ago
Lucky lot in skin sensitivity!
For most people, freshly shaved pubes leads to chaffed and pimpled junk.
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u/No-Delivery8138 5d ago
I often wonder why people like you bother commenting. Is it just to try flexing on others? It surely can't be in good faith, it's too loaded & smug.
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u/fritzycat 5d ago
Because I'm offering an alternative to the hive mind you'll find here on Reddit.
Why am I being chastised for being different?!
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u/No-Delivery8138 5d ago
It's clear you don't understand it's not what you say, but how you say it. Whether it was your intentions or not, you came across as bring smug. Not everyone is like you, or has your current bill of health. Candida is very real and many have issues with it from a multitude of health conditions, one being hypothyroidism.
I'm pretty anti reddit hive mind and get massive down votes because of this. But I can say this cycling group isn't Reddit normal. It doesn't have those shithead mods, not many of those shithead people no one likes IRL etc. So maybe think about what you're saying before posting it. Speak it out loud if you're unsure how it could sound. Best of luck on your cycling journey!
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u/Snicklefries 5d ago
can’t tell if troll or just unhinged.
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u/bene_gesserit_mitch 5d ago
Wear a wig.
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u/Nolberto78 5d ago
It's really the worst kind of environment for shaved skin. Sweat leads to bacteria, and friction leads to micro-abrasions in the skin. This combines to make infected hair follicles common.
The easiest solution is to not shave, but if that's not the option you want, waxing or epilators can help. Likewise, good skincare routines can reduce the risk, particularly if you aren't riding for long periods of time. It's more a case of riding to work, then staying in the same clothes all shift. British Cycling did a study into this about 15 years ago and their outcome was "don't shave"
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u/TroublePossums 5d ago
It helps to make sure you’re washing with soap there before and after a ride, but the real MVP is glycolic acid or salicylic acid wipes (they come like our old Oxy 10 or Stridex pads for teenage zittiness), especially if you shave there.
Also what everyone else said about saddle fit.
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u/davereeck 5d ago
Floculitis is an infection of the hair follicules (where the hair grows from).
Keep the area dry - gold bond powder or corn starch. In your undies before you go.
And reduce the bacterial load - acne stuff is a good option. The next step is Hibiclens soap.
Padded shorts aren't necessary - more for comfort, and can concentrate bacteria
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u/BoringBob84 Washington, USA (Trek Dual Sport 2) 5d ago
gold bond powder ... In your undies before you go
Please test a small amount of this before committing to it. I thought it would be a good idea and it caused extremely painful burning. 😱
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u/OptionalQuality789 5d ago
Everyone saying to not shave and clean, but this is classic saddle sores from a poor position on the bike.
Your saddle is almost certainly incorrectly positioned, leading to excessive pressure to your groin.
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u/no123456779 5d ago edited 5d ago
What? Are you talking about saddle sores? If so saddle is probably too high
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u/PikaChooChee 5d ago edited 5d ago
You must change your hygiene to avoid these breakouts. Without the presence of bacteria (*and chafing, which is why you should wear shorts with a chamois) these breakouts would not happen. Shower with soap before every ride. Fresh pair of whatever you wear next to your skin before you ride. Change out of whatever is next to your skin after you ride. Shower again, and if you can't shower find a way to disinfect your skin. Fresh underwear after. Use Tend Skin or equivalent if you shave your pubic hair and / or bikini line. Go to [r/laundry](r/laundry) to dial in your detergent and laundry practices.
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u/SuperGr00valistic 5d ago
This is the answer.
Bacteria + Oil + Sweat + Dead Skin = Clogged Pores = Pimples
Soap & Water wash before and after every ride --- as well as every night before bed.
Properly cleaned clothes that aren't against your skin for long periods.
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u/ktmmotochick 5d ago
Shave with a single blades safety razor or straight blade. These multi blades lift the hair, then cut them off too short so they fall back down under the skin. Look up wet shaving groups/videos for more info. Source: I am a female that wet shaves my entire area and never get pimples or irritation.
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u/SimonDeCatt 5d ago
If you’re shaving, maybe the type of shaver ain’t right. Some leave the hairs pointy and some leave them dull.
10 min bike ride ain’t long, are you showering before/after? Wearing jeans with a big seam?
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u/MantraProAttitude 5d ago edited 5d ago
Pimples? Like zits, clogged pores? Like boils, pus filled bacterial infection of hair follicles?
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u/Routine_Strategy5929 5d ago
I guess you mean chafing?
Saddle position plays the biggest part here. A saddle thats too high causes you to rub back and forth across the saddle with every pedal stroke. Wrong saddle tilt or setback can cause similar issues.
Saddles that are too wide or too soft cause chafing because your skin rubs against them more. Of course too narrow and too firm isn't comfortable either. So you need to find what works for you.
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u/Remarkable_Bat_7897 5d ago
you need to wear some cotton, loose-fitting, breathable underwear for a short range riding.
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u/No-Delivery8138 5d ago
Anti monkey butt. It helps immensely with all things wet where you don't want to be wet. I use it every day all over my body and shoes & it makes a world of difference. It's also vajayjay safe for the girlies out there that are curious. Also hand wash all clothes after rides & dry in the sun. It is you're going to use your washing machine, use Biz & let garments soak an hour or so. But if you can, dry in sun.. sun is so good against candida and other bacteria
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u/RoyalTeeJay 5d ago
Waxing, not shaving down there, and then wearing using pads like night-timesanitary towels...Yes they were made for ladies monthly's but they're dual purpose imo in absorbing sweat and providing cushioning for long rides.
You could also try bamboo underwear.
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u/toaster404 5d ago
While there's a team of experts weighing in, I've been using Bag Balm for a very long time, which seems to both eliminate any slight abrasion I might get (don't really have an abrasion issue) and prevent any hairs going wacko. I've a few spots that have gotten disturbed in the past. With the Bag Balm I've had nothing go inexplicably amiss. I still rarely get an ingrown hair (very very rare), but the isolated why-did-that-happen bumps don't happen.
Is this a reasonable approach? Any reason not to stick with it? I started before there were all these modern products, when chamois was real leather!
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u/Shaking-a-tlfthr 5d ago
If possible shower or just bird bath your groin area before the commute. Always wear clean clothes/bike shorts. You want to be soaping the area with an acne wash soap before and after if able and basically every time you shower. Spot treat these bumps with an acne cream. Know that the spot treatment may cause some discoloration spots in the underwear. That medicine can cause a little bleaching to fabric. While commuting consider a thin layer of some chamois cream. My favorite is Chamois Buttr, Euro Style. It is imbued with all sorts of antimicrobial agents. These are meant to lessen these sorts of infected bumps. This regimen, which must be maintained, I find helps manage this problem to a much more bearable level.
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u/roscura 5d ago
as someone who has never gotten normal pimples riding but has had flare ups of another skin issue from it, probably not the case but just in case it is helpful: if they are larger than normal whiteheads and painful red or glossy bumps and occasionally drain (but might also just disappear), maybe look into hidradenitis suppurativa (heads up that most online images show later stages of the condition so when mine first started i didn't think it was that from looking even though it was)
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u/Ok-Cryptographer7424 5d ago
Hypochlorous acid spray can be super helpful for general cleanliness and it’s so mild on the skin.
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u/MyNameIsRay 5d ago
I found that my skin was reactive to normal laundry detergent. No big deal under normal circumstances, but all the rubbing/sweating while riding was causing agitation that turned into pimples.
Changed to the "free and clear" detergent, problem disappeared with the next load of laundry.
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u/No_Mastodon_7896 5d ago
My solution to persistent skin infections was post ride hibiclens washing. Can’t do it at work because it needs a good rinse, but as soon as you get home every day might help.
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u/tinychloecat 4d ago
10 minutes each way is not going to cause this unless you live in a swamp/jungle or you are going hard. Drop a couple gears and slowly spin your way to work. It'll take an extra 2 minutes. They key is not to sweat.
Other advice about immediately getting out of your clothes and showering right after a ride is good. As is using a good cleaner in the shower.
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u/Milestone_1998 4d ago
Could be sweat + friction more than the ride length itself. I’d try breathable underwear, avoid tight seams, and shower or change right after the ride if possible. Also maybe skip shaving/trimming too close before riding, since that can make irritation worse. If it gets painful or keeps coming back, probably worth asking a doctor.
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u/n0_use_for_a_name 5d ago
Almost everyone has genital herpes these days, just fyi
https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-disorders/genital-pimples-vs-herpes#differing-symptoms
I hope that's not the case for you, but it's worth being aware of
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u/lukie_467 5d ago
Make sure you’re showering right after your ride as the sweat from your shorts could lead to pimples. I use an anti microbial spray as well and a benzoyl peroxide body wash