Crotch rot

“I need some advice in regards to proper underwear attire while conducting a multi-day backpacking trip. My son and I (along with 8 other Boyscouts) went on 7 and 5 Mile hike up some nasty switchbacks over the last 2 days. When we got back, even though we were wearing underarmour type boxers, we were both raw. We have a 50 miler planned in one month and we could use some advice and how to prevent or reduce this. Thanks.”

“I tried Underarmour a while back and the seams were placed totally wrong for long distance hiking (for me, anyway). I went back to cotton and took a tip from some runners.”

“Cornstartch!”

“none”

“it's either chaffing or diaper rash.

get rid of the boxers and get something more tight-fitting. a pair of "boxer briefs" ... basically briefs that extend down your leg like boxers... is ideal in my opinion. synthetic is key. take them off ahd change them daily. air them out so they are dry the next day and also this kills some of the bacteria. i swear by 'gold bond triple medicated powder' (active ingredient is zinc oxide). prevents diaper rash, helps keep you dry, and prevents the funk from setting in, at least for a while... then you smell like 'gold bond' powder which isn't the most macho sent... haha!”

“There are underwear treated with something that kills bacteria and retards odors. The girls version is made by ex officio.

Description:

Ex Officio boxers with travel-friendly Give-N-Go Stretch — 94% Nylon/6% Spandex .
Ex Officio boxers air-dries within hours so you can wash as you go.
Extremely breathable Ex Officio boxer, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial finish keeps you comfortable


last edited: 6/24/07 11:12:13 PM”

“http://www.hisroom.com/Ex-Officio-underwear,Exo001,1.html?cm_mmc=His-_-Adwords-_-ExOfficio-_-exofficiounderwear&gclid;=CPKd1euy9owCFQ1dPgodwFPHDA”

“I agree with Jimmy San. I used tight whites (cotton) as a Boy Scout 30 years ago and I use synthetic wear now. 600+ miles backpacking with no problem.”

“I usually wear the duofold boxerbriefs. I have never had a problem with them though some here will tell you they hold the funk worse than other brands. I have not tried them on any extended trips so I wouldn't know. They are much more affordable than the under-armor though. And I second what Jimmysan said about the gold bond. Good stuff you just smell like an old man after using it for a while. LOL!”

“"old man"... that's the smell i was trying to describe! haha! anything with zinc oxide will work, however. desitin powder would work REALLY well but then you would smell like a baby. it's diaper rash... treat it like you did when you were taking care of busines with your babies that are not all growed up. :)”

“Ya, I always think I smell like my 89 y/o grandfather when I use it. LMAO!”

“my kid wore boxerbriefs on a cadet 'sportday' and he really chaffed! i figure the seams were the culprit and tossed the shorts.
his thighs was so raw that he could barely walk for a couple days.”

“Exactly. Those suckers drew blood --- ! I guess they were meant for stop-and-go athletics, not sustained motion.

I tried Capilene a few years ago for its wicking ability, but -how can I say this?-, there just wasn't enough 'room'. Not talking 'bout 'junk in the trunk' either!

I've been saying for over ten years that Patagonia needs to make a deal to use the Jockey design for their briefs.”

“I saw this at Gander Mountain the other day...



Monkey Butt

I had to find the right kind of shorts and found the best underwear I've ever found made by Dickies. I got therm at a Marshalls store and I'll be damned if I can find them again. Turning your underwear inside out can help because it gets the flat seams on the inside and the sown seams on the outside.

I've used the Body Glides stuff that's supposed to help but it only helps for maybe a half hour and the stick ends up a bloody mess in your pack and breaks off. Not worth the effort, time money or gooky crotch. Pick up a small bottle of the Gold Bond travel size for 99 cents. You'll never go back.

And the final tip which is the best one but will draw the most fire; um how can I put this delicately? Any place you get rubbed wrong take some trimmers to it.”

“You have to stay active. If you only backpack twice a year you are always going to have raw spots.”

“Since I started using the long undies described above I don't get the chafing anymore. Diaper rash is a different story. Sorry N, that's one area I think I'll pass on trimming. I can see me asking my wife, "Uhh, honey, can you trim my butthole?"

May have to try the Anti-Monkey Butt stuff.”

“AYE...go with a kilt mon!!!”

“i HATE monkey butt!”

“DON'T TRY THE GOLD BOND MEDICATED...that menthol will shore nuff give you scalled butt!”

“MOISTURE is the enemy.....

Wear long legged underwear made of mesh....

it prevents the clothing from rubbing the skin, and provides an increased ventilation.

The swamp phase of Ranger School is proof of that!”

“Lots of times I'll just use river shorts and commando. They have the mesh. I still get the diaper rash though.”

“DON'T TRY THE GOLD BOND MEDICATED...that menthol will shore nuff give you scalled butt!”
dayhiker



Some people like that mentholated sensation, DH. It keeps them feeling fresh.”

“It appears some people are just naturally rat-arsed. Maybe it's in the genes.

Then there's the thunder thighs to consider....”

“I have worn tighty whities for ages. The problem I have found has nothing to do with underwear. If I wear jeans for any length of time I chafe and bleed and all manner of nasty things. Do not hike in jeans. The seams are all wrong. They are too bulky. They store the funk like a sponge. Even the long snug briefs do not keep me from crotch rot if I am wearing jeans.”

“i think we should have a category for TMI threads.....”

“1. Baby Powder
2. Bring at least 2 pairs of shorts and be sure to air out the pair you're not wearing.
3. Ventilation. If its warm out, hike in gym shorts or cargo shorts instead of full length pants, especially if they're made of a synthetic fabric (like most camping/hiking clothes). Doing this "commando" may further help if you feel comfortable hiking like that.
4. I've also heard about a type of underwear with silver strands in the fabric, which keep the bacteria that causes this from growing/thriving. The name escapes me, but I'm sure if you poke around Google for a bit, you'll find it.”

“ya, for sure

the net of this, i think, is that we are talking about two problems...

diaper rash - caused by bacteria that grows in warm/moist conditions that gets into cracks in the skin and causes irritation and inflammation.

chaffing - caused by friction, skin to skin or skin to fabric, which leads to abrasions and creates the foundation for diaper rash and also causes/aggrivates bleeding, irritation and inflammation.

address the chaffing by wearing appropriate clothing so that rather than skin rubbing against skin it's cloth rubbing against cloth. remember that ill-fitting clothes or poorly place seams may cause the fabric to rub against your skin which will cause chaffing.

to address diaper rash prevent chaffing and try to create an environment where bacteria won't grow as easily. so in addition to good choices of clothing try to stay dry (some use powders and even powders with anti-bacterial ingredients like zinc oxide). change your shorts... for the record the US Army Survival Guide says to do this once every two days... and at least air them out and dry them every day. choose fabrics that wick moisture away from your skin and dry quickly. make sure they fit when used for an extended period of time.”

“i go alnatural and i RARELY have problems...when i do it's nothing a little powder can't fix...other then the smell i really haven't noticed a difference in baby, talc, or gold bond powders”

“Radiation protection for the BOYZE!

http://gadgets.qj.net/Save-your-testicles-from-mobile-phone-radiation-with-the-Isabodywear-undergarments/pg/49/aid/93046”

“Synthetic boxer briefs have kept me from having any problems lately. But I keep Desitin in my pack because if you develop even a hint that a problem is about to erupt, this stuff is virtually an instant cure.

http://www.desitin.com/en/?dsp=1&psp;=0”

““Lots of times I'll just use river shorts and commando. They have the mesh. I still get the diaper rash though.”
dayhiker
8:42:28 AM

I was going up Sassafras Mt. on the AT in GA wearing river shorts with built in mesh briefs. It was near about 80 that afternoon with the sun beaming without a whole lot of tree cover. I was sweating buckets and the mesh rubbed like crazy.

I had to stop and cut the built in mesh briefs out of the shorts with my pocketknife.”

“Avoid the temptation to use corn starch baby powder. The bacteria that cause the rash just love to gobble up the corn starch. Makes them big and healthy. Not really what you want to accomplish.”

“isn't there also some kind of stuff that comes in a stick or roll-on like deodorant that you can smear on your thighs?”

“Some one mentioned the Body Glide up a ways. Said it didn't pack well among other things”

“[edit] Symptoms and signs
As the common name for this condition implies, it causes itching or a burning sensation in the groin area, thigh skin folds, or anus. It may involve the inner thighs and genital areas, as well as extending back to the perineum and perianal areas.

Affected areas may appear red, tan, or brown, with flaking, peeling, or cracking skin.[1][2]

The acute infection begins with an area in the groin fold about a half-inch across, usually on both sides. The area may enlarge, and other sores may develop in no particular pattern. The rash appears as raised red plaques (platelike areas) and scaly patches with sharply defined borders that may blister and ooze.[3]

If the rash advances, it usually advances down the inner thigh. The advancing edge is redder and more raised than areas that have been infected longer. The advancing edge is usually scaly, and very easily distinguished or well demarcated.

The skin within the border turns a reddish-brown and loses much of its scale. The border may exhibit tiny pimples or even pustules, with central areas that are reddish and dry with small scales.[4][5]

If infected with candidal organisms, the rash tends to be redder and wetter. The skin of the #&%!$ may be involved, whereas other organisms spare the #&%!$.


[edit] Causes
Opportunistic infections (infections that are caused by a diminished immune system) are frequent. Fungus from other parts of the body (commonly tinea pedis or 'athlete's foot') can contribute to jock itch. A warm, damp environment allowing the fungus to cultivate greatly contributes; especially with tight, sweaty or rubbing clothing such as jockstrap or tight undershorts.

The type of fungus that most commonly causes tinea cruris is called Trichophyton rubrum. Some other contributing fungi are Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum.


[edit] Treatment
Tinea cruris is best treated with antifungal drugs applied topically. Traditionally creams containing clotrimazole or miconazole have been used, although newer agents such as butenafine are also used. These anti-fungal agents work by stopping the fungi from producing a substance called ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. If ergosterol synthesis is completely or partially inhibited, the cell is no longer able to construct an intact cell membrane. This leads to death of the fungus.

If the skin inflammation causes discomfort and itching, glucocorticoid steroids may be combined with the anti-fungal drug to help prevent further irritation due to the patient scratching the area. Apart from the quicker relief of symptoms, this also helps minimise the risk of secondary bacterial infection caused by the scratching. However steroids, if used alone, for fungal infections may exacerbate the condition.


[edit] Preventing recurrence
There are practices that can help reduce the risk of recurrence. Bear in mind that fungus can be very resilient both on the body and on clothing. To eliminate it permanently may require diligence. A long term or serious fungal infection may inflame the skin and make it more prone to sweating, and hence more ideal for recurrence. Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to reduce inflammation.


[edit] Dryness
Bathe or shower immediately after sweating. This is especially important after exercising, where there has been sweating and irritation from friction. Use a medicated powder such as tolnaftate to keep the groin area dry. A hair dryer (preferably one with a "cool" setting) can be very helpful too, especially if you use water instead of toilet paper, as is recommended to prevent skin damage.


[edit] Irritants
Several materials and activities can aggravate tinea cruris, such as:

Scented or antibacterial soaps. (Consider hypoallergenic or acidic candida soaps)
Sweating and friction, such as cycling or regularly shaving your hairs.
Synthetic materials.
Avoid applying talcum powder to the affected area as it has the tendency to perforate and irritate the damaged skin and thus worsening the itch.

[edit] Clothing
Clothing is especially important. If fungus resides on your clothing, and you are susceptible to it, the odds of recurrence are much higher.

It can help to:

Wear loose underwear, such as boxer shorts.
Sleep with a nightshirt or in the nude.
Change underwear frequently, particularly if it gets sweaty.
There are ways to help keep clothing free of fungus.

Wash exercise clothing between workouts.
Wash underwear and bed-sheets in hot water.
Be mindful of clothing storage. In particular, because of the ideal growing conditions for fungus, avoid storage:
of exercise clothing without washing it,
in damp or moist areas,
in dark places, and
with poor ventilation.
When putting on and taking off (under)shorts, the feet can transfer fungus to the crotch and vice versa.”

“LOL, i just read Nigal's post...now i'll be running the term "gooky crouch" into the ground”

““isn't there also some kind of stuff that comes in a stick or roll-on like deodorant that you can smear on your thighs?”

thriftyhiker


Body Glide -- It's like a wide solid deoderant stick (not petroleum-based). Can't remember who recommended it it here originally, but I've been using it for about four years now and it works great, in the middle of Winter (it warms up in a minute or less) or even here in the Sunny South with 99° heat and 90% humidity. One application lasts all day, at least. I just do the thighs and whatnot.... Don't know what other people are doing with it, < G >

I'm just saying, before you go out hunting for specialised underwear, try the $4.00 solution. I wish I had the cash I blew on those UA boxerbriefs! (ka-Ching)


As for the Other --- In the immortal words of Redd Foxx, "You Got To Wash Yo Ass!"

[ Redd Foxx: Video in a Plain Brown Wrapper (1970) ]”

“So...where are all the pics of ya'll in your undies???





woooo hoooooo!!!!”

“um, i said, i don't wear them”

“Can't hang with the commando thang ---- This stuff bangs around like the bells of Notre Dame and takes the fun right out of it.”

“I wear a micro fiber boxer brief from Walmart, costs 4 bucks a pair as opposed to some major name brand and since I am buying from walmart I am keeping six Chinnesse nationals employed and off welfare.

I make my own version of Glide.....I have been using it for years. I take beeswax and olive oil and then use an old deodorant stick container that has been cleaned. It works wonders.

My friend calls it "Gnat Butter", we concoctted it for Revolutionary War re-enacting....use it on leather, wood, iron, steel and skin. It protects anything from moisture and is totally organic and safe. You can even use it for chapped skin and lips.

I have used it on biking for a pesky friction problem, fat guy on a road bike can generate friction, and seen good results.

Beeswax does not promote bacterial growth real well or so I have been told.

Heck I use to sell it on Ebay with no complaints on how good it is.”

“willing to share formula?”

“beeswax and olive oil sounds like bear bait... haha”

“haha yerby wears tiny underwear”

“DON'T TRY THE GOLD BOND MEDICATED...that menthol will shore nuff give you scalled butt!

That's cause the green stuff goes on yer feet, not yer bobbydangler! I once washed up using hand sanitizer and when I hit the effected area where my shorts had been rubbing my legs all day I howled like a little #&%!$ hit by a car.”

“N - I'm talking about the innie, not the outie.”

“I can't believe no one mentioned the most simple solution: rinse and wash your body!

I have found that at the end of the day, if I wash off all the salt and funk, use a pack towel, air dry and slip into something clean, I avoid rashes and rot. It also is beneficial to give your shorts a good rinse and let those hang and dry over night.

In the warmer months, I just hike in a pair of strong but light water shorts with a mesh liner and don't duplicate with underwear. When I wear pants with no liner, I put on a pair of briefs. Two pairs are brought and, generally, washed and rotated.”

“I heat 3 parts beeswax in a double boiler configuration (insert caution note that this can be flammable and hurt if you act like an idiot) and mix in one part olive oil. I have added a drop or two of essential oils but that is not necessary. Pour into your container of your choice; I have it in bottles, old chapstick containers, and cleaned out deodorant sticks. Let it cool and you should be ready for use.”

“Catch the last two lines of the entry timestamped 12:02:40 PM, 6/25/07.

At camp it was known as the dreaded Butt Rash. If for any reason you did not shower at least once a day, the Butt Rash would attack, and you would be sent to the infirmary to have your butt sprayed by one of the pretty young nurses (fate worse than death, donchaknow).”

“Sorry Tilt. Missed it! Anyway, it can't emphasized enough...Clean the #&%!$ up!”