What is the best way to treat saddle sores?
Loose clothes, Gold Bond medicated powder, or Moisturizer?
What seems to help reduce the painful symptoms of saddles sores once you already have them?
I know how to prevent them, so I'd prefer to focus on what to do after you find yourself with this problem (like after you decided not use use chamois cream).
Take a few days off. Keep the area clean and dry.
Try diaper rash ointment or maybe Aloe Vera and perhaps something like neosporin or OTC acne ointment.
Cover affected area(s) with bandaging… such as a hydrocolloid or semiocclusive hydrogel dressing. Personally, I'd use this along with an anti-bacterial ointment. This especially if you aren't taking days off.
The goal is to avoid infection and speed healing. You don't want boils forming.
For the DIY folks... diaper rash cream is primarily zinc oxide +- an anti-bacterial/anti-fungal ingredient carried in something like petrolatum. Some also include hydrocortisone Enjoy.
There are many products, but they all boil down to one thing: Eliminating friction and moisture.
Edit:
Even better is that all these products which help to heal you after, these same chamois cremes and bag balms, are designed to prevent saddle sores. Grandma always said an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, right?
Gold Bond, bag balm, or Assos After Ride Skin Repair gel all work well. Loose clothes, not so much. They tend to allow the skin contact which is best avoided once saddle sores or chafing come to visit.
I've used chamois creme applied directly on the skin after a ride, and that is quite effective as well. Look for Assos Chamois Creme, DZ Nuts, or Chamois Butt'r.
I hope that helps.
In my experience, once the sores have formed, nothing beats a "cortisone" (hydrocortisone) cream like Cortaid -- it actually works to heal the sores, rather than simply "allowing" them to heal, so healing can occur in hours rather than days. You can get a prescription version that's even better.
