It's important to apply chafing cream before physical activity and reapply as needed, especially in hot, humid environments. If you notice increased discomfort or irritation while using chafing cream, you should stop applying it immediately and take a break from activity. It is so important that you properly clean your shorts after each ride and ensure they are dry before your next adventure. This cleanliness, coupled with regular application of chamois cream, can significantly reduce the risk of skin irritations and enhance your comfort while cycling. How to clean and maintain your cycling gear Keith Bontrager on chamois creme from about a decade ago (still worth a read): http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/riders/2006/diaries/keith/?id=keith0606 Proper hygiene and maintenance can make a vast difference to your cycling experience, especially when it comes to delicate aspects such as the use of chamois cream and the care of your cycling shorts. Why it is important to keep your cycling shorts clean When we tested DZNuts for ourselves, we liked that it went on smoothly and didn’t leave any visible clumps or residue behind. We also noticed that our skin felt nourished immediately after application—plus, we liked the light scent and cooling sensation from the cream’s tea tree oil.

Chamois cream is there to reduce the friction between you and your cycling shorts, specifically the 'chamois pad', which is the foam insert sewn into them that provides padding while you ride. Even if you have the optimum combination of saddle and shorts there's still going to be movement in the system, and so lubricating the interface helps reduce the possibility of any saddle sores. Some are creamy, some are more of a greasy paste, but they all do the same job. It's just a case of finding which one works for you. Is chamois cream better than Vaseline? There is also a women's specific version, which aims to cater for "women’s more neutral skin pH" - however, neither of our two female testers have had issues with the unisex formulas, so whilst nice-to-have this isn't a product we feel is a 'must have' for women, based on our experience. Buyer's guide to chamois cream What is a Chamois? Because of the goopiness of some chamois creams, it can actually stop your skin from breathing so it’s important to not just leave it on indefinitely. It’s worth making sure you give the area an extra scrub in that post-ride shower or bath! Recommended Chamois Creams and Where to Buy Assos Chamois Creme The aim of chamois cream is to reduce the friction or chaffing between your cycling shorts and your skin. This anti-chafing balm may melt in high temperatures, so we don’t recommend leaving it outside for long periods in hot weather or a warm car.Therefore, you should ideally apply it before you leave your house. But if you absolutely must do it in a semi-public place, remember to just awkwardly stare at the ground to avoid any uncomfortable exchanges. What should I look out for when buying chamois cream? Some brands make women’s-specific chamois cream, which contains different ingredients from the men’s version. In general however, roughly around one scoop using two fingers (a highly accurate measurement) should be enough to cover most friction prone areas. But this will largely be a trial and error process, as everyone's needs of course differ. Where do you apply chamois cream?

DZNuts’ Pro Chamois Cream wins our other top spot for its refreshing scent and healing formula. Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, it helps reduce your chances of infection while your skin recovers from chafing and itchiness. All of the best chamois creams will contain the perfect blend of both lubrication and anti-bacterial properties to help prevent chaffing and infections. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/48ab/36c2f9633113dbdb1acbe268b59d242d493e.pdf?_ga=2.239149827.1069325518.1565535107-171421998.1532133272 Why use chamois cream? Simple, to prevent the aforementioned chafing, redness and soreness, which are incredibly painful if left without protection or treatment. The cream acts as a lubricant between surfaces, just in the same way as lubing your chain but with the added advantage of the chamois cream having anti-bacterial properties.Whilst it’s likely you’ll have big pots of cream at home, you may want to consider carrying a small tube of cream with you on rides, just in case you get caught out. This might be alien to some cyclists but yet we carry spare inner tubes for tyre emergencies, gels for fuel emergencies and so why not for comfort too? As well as lubricants, many chamois creams contain anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ingredients to help keep you problem-free down there. Most chamois cream manufacturers offer creams for both men and women. The women's creams, they say, have a different pH more suited to women's skin and often have less or no tingly ingredients like peppermint or menthol. There's a good chance you're going to get some cream on the genital mucus membranes and for some women that's going to be massively irritating if there are minty ingredients in the mix. Cafe wisdom

The liner in cycling shorts is these days made from a sandwich of very clever foams and synthetic fabrics, designed to sit against your skin and keep you comfortable. The outer layer in particular is designed not to chafe your skin and to move with you as you pedal.Cleaning your cycling gear: is a straightforward process. After a ride, immediately rinse off the heavy dirt under tap water. Then hand-wash or machine wash your gear on a gentle cycle.