Swift Tip for the Week
Carry a small amount of a petroleum jelly based lubricant. Something like Vaseline or Aquaphore. Use it to combat chafing in your neither parts, butt crack, groin area etc.
Believe me, if you start getting chafed, you will appreciate it. This is particularly a factor when working in wet or humid environments where pants and underwear may be wet around the groin and butt area. Wearing spandex type running / cycling style shorts under your BDUs can also help, mainly with chafing on the inner thighs.
It’s all in the little things that experience tells you, that you can pack, and which will keep you combat effective.
Live Hard, Die Free.
MV
Not wearing underwear at all can also reduce this problem.
You know, if going commando really works for you, and you have tried it in extreme conditions in the field with success, then good on you.
I just can’t see how it would combat all chafing, including skin on skin and between the thighs, where even the crotch of your pants can rub between your thighs.
I advise carrying the petroleum jelly.
Thanks Max Commando always worked for me in the Hot Humid. I started doing it as a farm kid bucking hay bails. My Uncle who had been a Marine on Guadllecannal Bouginville and Pellilu(spell?) urged me to try it -and it worked for me.
I’ve gone commando on CFT’s and for me it defo doesn’t work. Couldn’t wipe my arse for a week, it was that raw.
Vaseline definitely works. And besides, rubbing vaseline into your nuts can be quite……therapeutic!
One product I have heard of for similar preventative medicine is called BodyGlide. I believe it comes in an applicator like solid deodorant. Apparently, you can just rub it on the areas before injury occurs and it provides a slick dry film to prevent chaffing. I have not used it yet, so can’t offer any first hand experience. Right now my sole contribution is to just mention it as one option available to you.
One I can speak of is zinc oxide cream. The same stuff you use on babies bottoms. Good for rash prevention to for wet areas.
Great info on the Vaseline, as it works. Especially when you’re in warm, wet conditions for extended periods. Nobody who’s had it wants to have ‘monkey butt’ again.
One of the things that leads to chafing (at least in my experience) is not having well-fitting pants and keeping them up with suspenders. Buff, skinny, or chunky, doesn’t matter. Pants will slide or otherwise go askew working in the field. Keeping them where they should be cuts way down on chafing.
Wearing shorts has it’s pros and cons; I’ve gone with and without; neither has an advantage as far as I can see when it comes to chafing.
The nice thing about the Vaseline is that it is also a fire starter when rubbed into tissue, cotton balls, or dry cloth. Dual purpose items in the ruck whenever possible helps keep the weight down….
As a long distance backpacker, two tricks I’ve learned in addition to Vaseline or body glide is to find underwear with no seams in the crotch and to carry preparation h wipes. They work great for those areas that get chafed as well as those with a little heat rash. Helps the swelling and pain associated with all such afflictions and really acts long term to aid healing. They come in handy individually wrapped packages too.
Yeah…..I learned the merits of Gold-Bond and diaper rash cream early on……they can spare you much pain and a possible skin infection. Those normally minor infections in a prolonged field environment have a way of getting out of control…
I regularly assist in providing radio communications for a marathon race. I found that there are little packets of vaseline (or something similar) made and sold for runners. The organizers of the marathon pass them out at the start of our races. As a radio operator I didn’t need them, but I saw the runners taking them. They are more convenient than tubes or jars.