Men’s ReSkin patch has distinctive extension

ReSkin fabric is low friction and very stretchy

Ladies can enjoy ReSkin comfort too

It’s not what you think. There is no padding or soft gel in a ReSkin patch, which is designed simply to protect delicate, vulnerable skin. How does it do this without any padding? It is simply a sheet of thin, low-friction mesh fabric with an adhesive backing that is designed to be stuck to the skin of the perineum and inner thighs.

The shape is surely self-explanatory, as is the difference between the male and female versions. For the boy with the low attention span at the back, the male shape is the one with a kind of extension on the front edge. Ignore the labelling, which says it ‘protects the buttocks against blisters’. The patch is supposed to be positioned so that the rounded ends sit directly between the thighs where they rub against the saddle. Of course, it can be placed anywhere and even cut into small pieces if necessary.

Don’t worry about the adhesive. There’s no chance of inadvertently receiving a ‘crack and sack’ come removal time. It is a medical adhesive developed for burns patients and is amazingly tacky but easy to peel. This means that the patch can be applied over broken skin without risk of aggravating any injury when it is removed.
The fabric is breathable and the patch as a whole washable. The adhesive still sticks firm after multiple applications. This allows re-use up to a claimed five times after washing, which RCUK performed by hand with shampoo. Putting it in the washing machine might not be a good idea. The adhesive sticks to itself even when wet, so some unravelling is needed before it is laid out to dry.

This washability goes a long way to offsetting what looks like a high initial price. The actual cost works out at a reasonable £1 or so per wear, although use in muddy conditions may render the patch unwashable. RCUK’s David Arthur has promised to wear one for the duration of the Click 24 hour mtb race so we’ll see. ReSkin importer Ken Jones claims to have gone 22hrs on one patch on a training camp, so the extra two should be no problem.

We have already worn the patch as Nature intended. Once in place it is unnoticeable. It stays put, and is painless to remove. It can be worn either to protect an existing wound or to prevent friction and chafing, especially on long rides such as cyclosportives.
ReSkin patches are due to be launched onto the UK market in April 2007. Until then, trial samples are available from importer Onimpex. Expect to pay around £25 per pack of 5 patches. Other shapes will be available, as will larger strips suitable for cutting to shape.