# Gentlemen of the dope, a little help please **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470 "2012-05-29T19:25:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/21 "2012-05-29T22:36:17Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > Goldbond. > > Like a cool breeze - in your pants. QFT. When I was doing archaeology in Belize I took a bottle with me into the field every day. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/22 "2012-05-29T23:01:07Z")
Stick deodorant. Plus you’re fresh all day! ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/23 "2012-05-29T23:41:28Z")
I wear Jockey midway briefs for my day-to-day stuff but if you’re doing anything that will result in a lot of sweating you really want to avoid cotton; it gets wet, stays wet and sticks to skin which will give you chafing and blisters and other awfulness. So try some good synthetic underwear - I like Nike and UnderArmor compression shorts (long briefs, 9" leg for me), REI sells perfectly nice midweight thermal thermal boxers (polypro), etc. Those materials wick sweat away which keeps you cooler and drier and less chafing. I use Gold Bond powder, it works well. You can also try BodyGlide or a product the name of which escapes me but it’s a spray-on skin lubricant (I run ultramarathons and avoiding friction pain is critical so I spritz myself down there before long runs). And I also shave…not for everyone I guess but it works fine for me. Maybe I have rugged skin or something but I’ve never had razor burn or whatever, and without and stray hairs to get caught in my shorts and tugged I’m much more comfortable. If you do get chafing and that red diaper-rash kinda injury, don’t use aloe vera, it will burn like a hot iron. I know this from personal experience. A&D Ointment works great, slather it on carefully (made for treating diaper rash). ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/24 "2012-05-30T00:04:21Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I sweat more than the average person and I’m having trouble with sweaty balls. Namely a chaffing issue. The very upper thighs get red and sometimes swollen as my balls rub against them. In my totally non-expert opinion, I think you have the cause of your ailment wrong. So, in attacking the problem, it should be helpful if you come to realize the actual cause. IMO, what you’ve got going on is a form of jock-itch. It’s basically athletes-foot on your groin, and it’s caused by a fungal infection. It’s not caused by friction from your balls. Look at the following pictures on this **TMI, NSFW** wiki, and see if it looks familiar. (although, these seem to be _advanced_ cases): > **[Tinea cruris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinea_cruris)** > > Tinea cruris (TC), also known as jock itch, is a common type of contagious, superficial fungal infection of the groin and buttocks region, which occurs predominantly but not exclusively in men and in hot-humid climates. > Typically, over the upper inner thighs, there is an intensely itchy red raised rash with a scaly well-defined curved border. It is often associated with athlete's foot and fungal nail infections, excessive sweating, and sharing of infected towels or sports clothing. It is uncommo... \*(link broken, copy/paste in browser) \* You may not necessarily be experiencing the “itch” part of jock-itch, but chances are good that that’s still what it is. Soreness, stinging and burning are also common symptoms. If I’m right, various sprays, powders, and cremes designed for athletes-foot or jock-itch should be effective, though they will burn like hell momentarily upon application. Those remedies are usually found near the foot-care products. It would probably not be a bad idea to go ahead and prophylactically treat your feet and shoes at the same time in order to prevent constant reinfection. You may already have a minor case of athletes-foot, but the symptoms aren’t as immediately obvious as shit going wrong near your balls. To prevent recurrence, you will also want to avoid sitting ‘indian-style’ or with one leg crossed with the foot under your other thigh so that your foot is adjacent to, or in contact with, your crotch. Also, for long-term prevention, you may find thorough lathering and scrubbing of the groin with an anti-dandruff/fungal shampoo, like Nizoral, to be most efficacious. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/25 "2012-05-30T00:13:48Z")
Evrry year the same problem until I started using Gold Bond powder and Lotrimin cream. I found that to be the best relief for crotch rot. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/26 "2012-05-30T00:18:07Z")
What ever you do, do NOT use Gold Bond \*Menthol \*on your ballsack. Rudimentary logic would say that if the yellow bottle Gold Bond sprinkled liberally across your taint is a refreshing and pleasurable experience, then a minty-fresh version would be doubly so. Well sweet ephus, you’d be wrong and clutching your plums in pain. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/27 "2012-05-30T00:21:11Z")
Get youself a big tube of Neosporin. It won’t prevent the rash but it’ll clear it up pronto. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/28 "2012-05-30T00:51:36Z")
Until I move into my new apartment I’m having to walk ~1 mile to the closest Metro stop. And I wear a suit to work now. Ball soup. I’m going to have to check out these high-tech undies; the cotton ones are not cutting it. I bought some baby powder but I seem to sweat too much for it. Plus I couldn’t find any that was unscented and the perfume they add is gross. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/29 "2012-05-30T00:59:15Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > #2: Bad idea. If anything, pubic hair serves as a sort of “lubricant.” Trust me on this one–I spent a very uncomfortable couple of weeks one summer in college so that you wouldn’t have to, ok? Did you keep it smooth or did you just shave it once and let it get all prickly and uncomfortable in those two weeks? If it’s the latter…:smack: ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/30 "2012-05-30T01:38:26Z")
roomy Bermuda shorts and go commando. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/31 "2012-05-30T01:56:09Z")
Boxer briefs are the hottest, sweatest underwear. Get some regular boxers made of the lightest weight fabric possible. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/32 "2012-05-30T02:00:47Z")
[Desitin](http://www.desitin.com/). It’s not just for baby balls. (Actually, I like Bert’s Bee’s version myself, but it’s even less manly than Desitin.) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/33 "2012-05-30T02:04:07Z")
vaseline ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/34 "2012-05-30T02:53:52Z")
A lot of the suggestions you’re getting will probably provide some measure of relief, and are probably good at preventing a recurrence once you’ve eliminated the problem. But, IMO, if you want to nuke this from orbit and be done with it ASAP, you need the anti-fungals found in products to treat jock-itch and athlete’s-foot. (I recommend the “powder” sprays that come in an aerosol can.) Without that, it may be a long, unpleasant summer fussing with putting various home remedies on/near your nutsack. I’m about as certain of this as an internet doctor-wannabe can be. Listen to me now, your balls can thank me later. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/35 "2012-05-30T03:13:44Z")
Those powdery sprays work well. Don’t let it spray on the dick head, tho. Shower real well first. Shampoo up them thighs and ballsack. Pat dry with fresh towel (no rubbing!), let air dry… Spray. Ahhh… ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/36 "2012-05-30T03:16:57Z")
Oh yeah, I meant to mention this part of the wiki I broken-linked above: > [@en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinea\_cruris](#): > > [Allylamines](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifungal_medication#Allylamines) and thiocarbamate antifungals ([tolnaftate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolnaftate), _Tinactin_ etc.) and are effective against _Tinea cruris_, but not against _[Candida albicans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_albicans)_, which requires an [azole](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifungal_medication#Imidazole.2C_triazole.2C_and_thiazole_antifungals) type drug, **making azole drugs, effective against both types of infections, the first choice for topical treatment of infections of unknown etiology** in [intertriginous](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertriginous) areas. (bolding mine) So, stick with a jock-itch/athlete’s-foot remedy that contains an active ingredient that ends with “-azole” so that all your bases are covered. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/37 "2012-05-30T03:27:44Z")
Let me throw in my $.02 here. It could well be jock itch. If your crotch looks like the pictures in the link up thread, go get some Tinactin or Lotrimin spray and use a lot of it. If on the other hand you don’t have those funny shaped red splotches it probably isn’t jock itch. The powers like Gold Bond are good for that, but if you are raw and sore, just before bed, wash the area with warm soapy water rinse, dry and slather on some Bag Balm. You will be amazed at how much better your crotch is the next morning. Follow up with Gold Bond during the day, and Bag Balm at night. You will be right as rain in a couple of days and can just cut back to Gold Bond in the AM. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/38 "2012-05-30T04:24:28Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > To prevent recurrence, you will also want to avoid sitting ‘indian-style’ or with one leg crossed with the foot under your other thigh so that your foot is adjacent to, or in contact with, your crotch. Also, for long-term prevention, you may find thorough lathering and scrubbing of the groin with an anti-dandruff/fungal shampoo, like Nizoral, to be most efficacious. A doctor told my (male) friend to put on his socks before his underwear. If you run your skivvies over your fungal foot then put them up against your crotch, you’re going to pass the infection upwards. If you cover your feet up first, it won’t spread. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/39 "2012-05-30T05:04:57Z")
Well thank you all for the tips. I do wear all cotton boxer briefs and yes at night they are damp. Actually it may be the rash. I don’t look quite like the photos but an early case of them. I do sweat a lot. More than you think. Really. Nope more than that. I will work up a sweat in a short walk and if I walk for several blocks when I get inside people ask me if it is raining. So some new undies and some medicated spray is the route. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470/40 "2012-05-30T05:34:47Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > Goldbond. > > Like a cool breeze - in your pants. Yes. Goldbond feels like Betty White is tickling your balls with a feather plucked from the wing of an angel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-of-the-dope-a-little-help-please/623470.md?page=1)