For years many of my most epic rides have been followed by days of pain in my most sensitive area. Saddle sores are not a usual topic among cyclist friends but they are extremely common to riders who love to spend time on the saddle.

What is a saddle sore?

Saddle sores are an irritation of the skin that vary in appearance and severity but can be likened to an infected hair follicle or pimple. The mixed conditions in your nether regions like pressure, sweat, heat, and chafing can cause these sores to develop in a cyclist’s “saddle” area. This skin irritation and exposure to bacteria can turn a pleasurable ride one day into days of uncomfortable pain. Saddle sores can keep you off the bike and even require medical attention.

Show / Hide Actual Saddle Sore Example Photos

What's the best way to prevent saddle sores?

The best approach to saddle sores is to avoid them all together (when possible). Basic saddle sore prevention methods include: 

• Size and Fit  📐  Having the right saddle size and a correct bike fit.
• Chamois Cream 🧴  Apply anti-chafing cream before every ride.
• Quality Kit 🚴‍♀️  Having high quality, well-ventilated cycling shorts.
• Good Hygiene 🛁  Wash yourself and what you wear after every ride. -Mom

But even when acting all these preventative measures you may still feel cursed by relentless sores. That's when treatment becomes necessary. Luckily there are topical solutions to beat saddle sores.

How do I effectively treat saddle sores?

There is so much information on treatments and home remedies for saddle sores on the internet. We’ve scoured the internet for the best information we could find and present it to you here the best we can.

Once saddle sores have developed you need to create the conditions for that skin to heal as quickly and painlessly as possible. Your priority is to keep the affected area DRY and CLEAN and then apply a topical treatment.

For cyclists eager to recover as quickly as possible, look for topical solutions containing the following dermatologically therapeutic properties: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, moisturizing and pain relieving. Below I’ve made a chart which contains common ingredients used for each and why these help increase recovery time and reduce discomfort.

Key properties to look for in saddle sore treatment:

Anti-inflammatory 🔥: to reduce the experience of redness, warmth and swelling. Ingredients with this property include: tea tree oil, aloe, arnica, and peppermint.

Anti Bacterial 🦠: to prevent the growth or spread of bacteria. Ingredients with this property include: tea tree oil, coconut oil, arnica and peppermint.

Moisturizing 💦: to add hydration to dry skin. Ingredients with this property include: Cacao butter, coconut oil, aloe, and hyaluronic acid. 

Pain Relieving 😵: self explanatory. Ingredients with this property include: arnica, peppermint and aloe.

Other helpful ingredients 🌟:
Evening primrose oil for its moisturizing and soothing properties.
Avocado oil for moisturizing and increasing collagen production which accelerates the skin healing process.
Organic soybean oil for protection against inflammation and help the skin retain moisture.

2020 Best Saddle Sore Treatment Review

After extensive research, online comparison, real-world testing, coffee breaks and clinical study reading, we’ve chosen the top options for cyclists battling with saddle sores. We did all the long rides and saddle-sore-generating activities required to get a good sense of how these options actually differ and work (or don’t work). We believe that any of these solutions will help solve your saddle suffering and leave you with only the good kind of suffering on the bike.