Helmet Strap Irritation

Every time I'm outside, I come back with a huge irritated area under my chin from where my helmet's chinstrap chafes; shaving is a real pain for a week or so afterward.  Anyone have the same issue and find a workable solution for it (apart from ditching the lid, which is not happening)?  I've tried applying a Band-Aid there before putting on the helmet, but that's only given minor relief.

Your strap shouldn't be tight, in case it is. It should fit fairly loosely over the chin.

you can get a piece of soft fabric and attach thin strips of velcro to it such that it wraps around the strap and protects your chin. or loosen the strap a bit ;)

Look for cheap, stretchy fabric hairbands, like 1/4-1/2" webbing rated for nothing, lol!

Chop a bit off and you've got a sleeve you can slip on your strap.

Best, OLH

Moleskin Adhesive squares. Cut to size. 

Grow a beard.

JFM wrote:

you can get a piece of soft fabric and attach thin strips of velcro to it such that it wraps around the strap and protects your chin. or loosen the strap a bit ;)

Some helmets come with a piece like this.  I have one I don't use.  OP - do you want it?  It will fit typical straps (up to, say 3/4" wide) and is a bit less than 3" long.

Another thought - scrub the chin strap with an old toothbrush and warm soapy water from time to time.  Mine accumulates a remarkable amount of (presumably bacteria-harboring) spooge.

Personally I have the very basic helmet test criteria. I wear my helmet car-2-car. If I can feel there's something on my head while wearing it I need another helmet.

Helmet has to be at least 100% comfortable.

Mine doesn't chafe at all. Sounds like your strap is too tight, made poorly, or you're allergic to something in the strap.

Use AstroGlide on your chin

I put a couple layers of tape around the plastic and that stopped it from irritating my skin

Pavel Burov wrote:

Personally I have the very basic helmet test criteria. I wear my helmet car-2-car. If I can feel there's something on my head while wearing it I need another helmet.

Helmet has to be at least 100% comfortable.

I agree.  Never had any issues remotely like what you are describing nor felt the need to add extra components.  Honestly, I usually forget it's there after wearing for a few minutes.  Either loosen the chin strap or get a new helmet.

Jonny d wrote:

Every time I'm outside, I come back with a huge irritated area under my chin from where my helmet's chinstrap chafes; shaving is a real pain for a week or so afterward.  Anyone have the same issue and find a workable solution for it (apart from ditching the lid, which is not happening)?  I've tried applying a Band-Aid there before putting on the helmet, but that's only given minor relief.

Cut a piece of cloth and sew to form a 2 inch tube and pass the chin strap through it. Works for me

grog m aka Greg McKee wrote:

Grow a beard.

This actually can cause problems (at least for me).  When I have some longer stubble I find my strap will often times "pull" on the stubble, it can be pretty uncomfortable, but I've never had a rash or had my face worn raw from it like the O.P., that sounds quite uncomfortable.

Have you tried washing the straps?  If it was me I would think that it is likely to be more than just chafing.  My three culprits are usually, chaffing, sweating, AND residual chemicals.  If I let my sweat build up and it chafes it will irritate.  If I sweat and there are residual chemicals from either detergents or the manufacturing process it will irritate.  If I let sweat build on something that has residual chemicals on it and chafes...

I would get after it with some soapy water and rinse really well.  I have skin that is sensitive to chemicals and find this often helps.