Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Health Watch, we're talking about bicycling. Serious cyclists who spend a lot of time on their bikes in training or racing may encounter skin irritation or chafing — sometimes called "saddle sores."

Dr. Luis Palacios, a family and community medicine doctor at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and also an avid cyclist, says these problems can be minimized if your bicycle seat fits you properly and if you wear well-fitting cycling shorts with moisture-absorbing padding. You should remove your sweaty clothing and take a shower as soon as possible after a ride, and wash your cycling clothes before the next time you wear them. That will keep your clothes from breeding bacteria and will keep those bacteria away from your skin.

Next: What to do when you fall. 

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^June 2006

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