[pct-l] Taking Care of

[dsaufley at sprynet.com]

You've brought up a very good topic.  

At Hiker Heaven, it sometimes seems we're running an infirmary.  Chafing is one of the more common ailments, and it can be quite a show stopper.  We've seen cases that moved into becoming a secondary infection, where the local infection started due to chafing began to spread -- not at all a good situation.  In these cases, antibiotics were prescribed, along with the recommendation from the doctors for the hikers to soak in collodial oatmeal baths, and expose the affected area to air and sun.  

In addition to cleanliness of both your body and clothing, cycling shorts made of wicking material has benefitted many chafing-affected hikers, and is one of the better methods of prevention.   You can get the shorts without the seat pads, and they can be worn under your hiking shorts or pants.  

Gals, chafing is an equal opportunity problem.  Thighs that rub are just as suseptable to chafing as "the boys." 

When it comes to chafing, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

L-Rod


-----Original Message-----
>From: Bill Batchelor <billbatch at cox.net>
>Sent: Jan 24, 2007 8:23 PM
>To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] Taking Care of "The Boys"
>
>
>Okay, 
>
>Straight to the point. Chafing of private areas.  On long hikes, I get a
>rash right... Well, ... In the "taint" zone.  Technically defined as that
>area that taint quite the (front parts) and taint quite the (back parts)-
>that area right between.  I have found body glide works as I suspect other
>"lubes" would. I am looking for a better solution.  I was wondering what
>others do or if I am the only one.  Strange subject in public (actually
>typed pubic and had to back-space).  However, it needs to be addressed.
>
>I have found this area to be susceptible due to lack of fabric wicking.  I
>think a good fabric layer that was really "there" would help.  However, on
>shorts, underwear, etc. there is an air gap where the front fabric leaves
>"the boys" and eventually makes contact again - further back.  I thought
>about a thong to get fabric "there", but I am just not pretty enough to pull
>it off.  I am imagining some sort of polyprop under garment that has a large
>opening in the front (like an under wire bra without the wire) that would in
>essence ride up under "the boys" leaving them free in front.  This might
>keep the fabric "there" since it would not have the air-gap problem
>associated with being lifted away from the body by... "the boys".   Of
>course, like a push up bra this might visually give me more credit than I am
>due as I saunter (oh and yes I would saunter) down the trail ...
>
>Strange subject I know, but hey - it's the trail.
>
>BillB (Ezhno)
>
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