How to Know if You Have Jock Itch

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 3, 2020.

• Overview
• Aftercare Instructions
• En Español

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

What is jock itch and what causes it?

Jock itch is a rash on your groin. The groin is the area between your abdomen and legs. Jock itch is usually easy to treat and prevent. It is caused by a fungus. The fungus also causes athlete’s foot.

What increases my risk of jock itch?

• Contact: The most common cause of jock itch is contact with something that has the fungus. For example, you touch another person’s skin or clothes when you play contact sports. Jock itch is also easily spread among people who live close together, such as in a college dorm. You can also spread the fungus to your groin from your feet if you have athlete’s foot.
• Moisture: The fungus that causes jock itch multiplies quickly in warm, moist areas. The fungus can grow in the sweat collected in the folds of your skin. You can get jock itch when your clothes are wet or too tight. For example, you wear tight pants or leave a wet bathing suit on. You can get jock itch if you are in a warm and humid climate.
• Medical conditions: You are at a higher risk of jock itch if you are overweight. It may be hard to prevent jock itch if you have a weak immune system. Diabetes (high blood sugar) can also put you at risk of jock itch.
• Gender: You are more likely to get jock itch if you are male.

What are the signs and symptoms of jock itch?

Jock itch is a reddish-brown rash with round lesions that can spread from your groin to your thighs and buttocks. You may see a red ring with raised edges. You may see flakes of skin on the rash. The rash may burn, itch, or be painful.

How is jock itch diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your signs and symptoms and examine you. He may ask if you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes. Your healthcare provider may ask if you play sports. He may ask if you wear tight clothes or leave wet clothes on for long periods. He will check your groin and your feet for a rash. Your healthcare provider may gently scrape off some of your skin with a special tool. An exam of the skin rash can help your healthcare provider diagnose jock itch.

How is jock itch treated?

Jock itch is usually treated with a cream that kills the fungus. Apply the cream to the rash and the skin around it as directed. You may need to apply the cream 1 to 2 times each day for 2 weeks. You may be given this medicine as a pill if the cream does not help.

What are the risks of jock itch?

You may get a headache or rash somewhere else on your body from the medicine used to treat jock itch . The medicines may cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Without treatment, your jock itch could become severe. You might have to take more than one kind of medicine to treat a severe rash. You may get jock itch again, even after treatment.

What can I do to manage and prevent jock itch?

• Keep the area dry.
• Wear light, loose clothes. Do not share clothes.
• Do not wear wet clothes for long periods. Wash athletic gear after you play sports.
• Bathe daily. Dry your skin completely after you bathe. Apply cream or powder after you bathe as directed if you get jock itch often. Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of the fungus. You may want to wear disposable gloves when you clean your feet. The gloves will keep the fungus from moving from your feet to your hands.
• Use separate towels to dry each part of your body. Put your socks on before you put on your underwear so you do not spread the fungus from your feet to your groin.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.

When should I contact my healthcare provider?

• Your signs and symptoms do not get better within 2 weeks of treatment.
• Your signs and symptoms get worse or come back after treatment.
• You get a rash on a part of your body other than your groin.
• You have a fever.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Care Agreement

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2020 Information is for End User’s use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. All illustrations and images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or IBM Watson Health

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Jock itch happens when a specific species of fungus builds up on the skin, growing out of control and causing inflammation. It’s also called tinea cruris.

Common symptoms of jock itch include:

• redness or irritation
• itchiness that doesn’t go away
• scaling or dryness

Most cases of jock itch are mild and easily treated.

But there are some activities and “treatments” that can make jock itch symptoms last longer. Let’s dive into what can make jock itch worse, how to tell jock itch apart from other similar conditions, and how to successfully treat jock itch.

There are a few things you might do that unintentionally make your jock itch worse. Here are some examples:

• Working out. This can cause the infected skin to chafe against nearby skin or with clothing and irritate it, making the skin more susceptible to a worsening infection.
• Having poor hygiene habits. Using improperly cleaned, damp towels or clothing, and not keeping skin dry may promote infection.
• Using the wrong treatment. Spreading an anti-itch cream, such as hydrocortisone, on the infected area won’t treat the infection — it can actually worsen it. This can increase the area of the infection or make the infection worse.
• Having a weakened immune system. Taking immunosuppressants for autoimmune disorders or having a weakened immune system from medication or conditions like HIV can make it harder for your body to fight off fungal infections.

Some conditions look like jock itch, but they aren’t, so they won’t respond to typical tinea cruris treatment.

Inverse psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis is a type of psoriasis, an autoimmune condition, that may have a genetic basis.

Like jock itch, it tends to appear in the same areas where you skin chafes, like your groin or inner thighs. Some common treatments for inverse psoriasis include:

• prescription topicals
• oral medications
• biologics

Yeast infection (thrush)

Yeast infections are a similar type of fungal infection caused by the fungus Candida.

They’re more common in people with vulvas, but they can also affect the penis from the head and shaft to the scrotum and the nearby groin skin.

Common treatments for yeast infections include:

• antifungal topicals like nystatin or clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF)
• oral antifungal medications, for more severe cases

With early and proper treatment, jock itch should go away within about a month.

Here are some signs that your jock itch is going away:

• rash or redness begins to fade away
• skin regains its usual color
• symptoms like itchiness or irritation start to subside

Got an especially severe or resistant case of groin itching? Here’s what you should do if over-the-counter (OTC) topical treatments don’t work.

Take antifungal medication

A doctor may prescribe medication for severe jock itch. Here are some of the options:

• oral medications like fluconazole (Diflucan) or itraconazole (Sporanox)
• topicals like oxiconazole (Oxistat) or econazole (Ecoza)

Use an antifungal shampoo

Medicated shampoos that contain ketoconazole or selenium sulfide are a good, strong treatment for jock itch symptoms. They’re available by prescription from your doctor or over the counter.

They don’t typically have side effects, and OTC versions are easy to buy at most drugstores.

See a doctor if you’ve used OTC treatments but haven’t seen any improvements in your symptoms after 2 weeks.

A doctor may be able to prescribe you a medication that can help, or they can evaluate you for another type of skin disorder that can mimic jock itch.

Here are some tips for preventing jock itch:

• Wash your hands regularly. This is especially important when you touch other people or are about to eat with your hands.
• Keep the moist areas of your body clean and dry. This is especially important for areas around your groin and upper thighs.
• Bathe at least once a day. Make sure to use gentle, unscented soap and dry off completely before putting clothes on. Bathe more than once a day if you’re active or sweat profusely throughout the day.
• Don’t wear tight clothing. It can trap moisture and cause skin to chafe.
• Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear. It’ll let your groin and thighs ventilate, especially if you live in a humid climate.
• Wash your workout clothes or any equipment your body touches after a sweaty workout.
• Have athlete’s foot? Don’t use the same towel on your feet and other areas of your body.Athlete’s foot and jock itch are both caused by tinea fungi and can spread to one another. Treating athlete’s foot is important for preventing jock itch.

Jock itch is typically easy to treat, but it can often come back.

Practice healthy hygiene habits to help prevent jock itch. Treat it early with OTC topicals when you first notice symptoms. If it doesn’t go away after a few weeks, see a doctor.

Last medically reviewed on October 22, 2019

Jockitch Treatments

There are many problems about your groin that can make you worried and embarrassed. One of these problems is usually referred to as jock itch. This condition is also known as tinea cruris. It’s one kind of fungal infections that mostly affects the male groin. But, women can also have chances of contracting it. Jock itch is very common and fortunately, it’s fairly easy to diagnose and treat. To know if you have jock itch, you should examine your symptoms and your skin appearance. Here is everything you need to know about jock itch.

Jock itch is caused by the fungus tinea- the same fungus that causes athlete’s foot. This type of fungus commonly thrives in moist, warm areas of the body, including:

• The skin of your genitals;
• The skin between your thighs;
• The skin between your buttocks.

Jock itch is mildly contagious. It can be spread through direct skin-to-skin contact. Sharing infected clothing and items with others can also make the fungus spread. Although jock itch is not an STD, you can catch it from having sex with an infected partner.

Jock itch can be spread through sex

Jock itch can be mistaken for other skin conditions, such as ringworm and psoriasis. To know if you have jock itch or something else, focus on your signs and symptoms. For example,

• A flat, red, itchy rash on the affected skin.
• Pain, itching, burning at the site of the rash.
• Changes in skin color.
• Crack formations in the skin.
• Blisters, pus-filled sores.

If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor. They can identify jock itch by examining you or by taking laboratory tests. Common tests for jock itch and other fungal infections are:

• Culture test
• KOH test
• Wood’s Lamp test

Jock itch rash

During the exam, your doctor may ask some related questions, such as:

• What are your symptoms? When did you first notice them?
• Have you experienced these symptoms in the past?
• Have you used any medications for this?

If necessary, ask your doctor for available tests. And if you have any questions about your condition, ask them.

Checking for high risk behaviors can help you determine if you have jock itch or not. In fact, some factors can increase your risk of getting this condition, including:

• Your gender. You’re male.
• Your age. You’re a teenager.
• Lack of personal hygiene;
• Excessive sweating;
• Excessive blood sugar;
• Suppressed immune system;
• Athlete’s foot infection;
• Diabetes, obesity;
• Tight clothing;
• Direct contact with infected people and items.

If you think you’re more at risk of jock itch, speak to your doctor for an official diagnosis.

Obese men can be more prone to jock itch

Like many other fungal skin infections, jock itch can be treated easily in many ways.

Antifungal creams. There are a lot of antifungal creams and showers that can help to treat jock itch. But the over-the-counter products are known to work extremely well and rapidly. Fugacil is one of the best antifungal creams for jock itch treatment. It helps to reduce symptoms and soften unsightly scabs of jock itch. Also, this solution kills the fungus immediately, thus preventing recurrences of infections. In particular, Fugacil speeds up the healing, giving best results within days of treatment. So, apply this cream 2-3 times a day to get rid of jock itch symptoms fast and effectively. You can also use products that contain terbinafine, clotrimazole, or miconazole. These can help, but usually take several weeks to heal the infection.

Natural remedies, like garlic, coconut oil, tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar. But, evidence about their effectiveness is still limited. If you’re considering using one of these remedies, discuss it with your doctor first.

Natural remedies for jock itch

Like other fungal infections, jock itch can keep coming back, even after treatment. To prevent jock itch in the first place, you should take some helpful tips below:

• Keep your groin clean.
• Stay dry by thoroughly drying your body after showing.
• Use antifungal soaps.
• Wear loose clothing.
• Practice good personal hygiene.
• Avoid your high risk behaviors.
• Avoid sharing clothing and other items with infected people.

Have good hygiene to prevent jock itch

Jock itch is not a serious condition. But if left untreated, it can lead to many problems, such as ulcers. So, ask your doctor and find appropriate treatment if you think you may have jock itch.

That itch is no match for these over-the-counter remedies.

If you recently Googled “How do I get my balls to stop itching?” between scratching yourself vigorously, there’s a good chance you have jock itch.

“Jock itch, or tinea curis, is a superficial infection on the skin of the groin caused by a few different species of fungi,” Evan Rieder, MD, dermatologist at NYU Langone Dermatology Associates says.

While jock itch can happen to both men and women, guys are more susceptible to the condition because of the groin’s external anatomy, which causes added friction and a more humid environment.

“It’s so-called because extra tight-fitting clothing, such as the jock strap, will really add fuel to the fire,” Ross C. Radusky, MD, dermatologist at SoHo Skin & Laser Dermatology, says.

While jock itch is uncomfortable and awkward, it’s also super common and, in most cases, extremely treatable. Stop the scratching and learn more about how to treat and prevent jock itch below.

The Causes of Jock Itch

Basically, your crotch is a breeding ground for the fungus that causes jock itch, especially after a sweaty workout.

“If you don’t have time for a shower immediately after, the sweat and bacteria our pores naturally emit have nowhere to go down there. It creates a tempestuous environment for tinea [fungus],” Dr. Radusky says.

If you have diabetes, you also may be more at risk. “Diabetes increases your risk of jock itch in two ways: the excess sugar emitted in your sweat is a fantastic food for fungus, and your immune system is not as strong in general, making you more at risk for common skin infections,” Dr. Radusky says.

The Signs and Symptoms of Jock Itch

Unsurprisingly, the first sign of jock itch is usually an itch, “accompanied by a light pink or red rash with scaly flakes, usually on the outer edge of the rash,” Dr. Radusky warns. “While it can start on the scrotum or the base of the penis, and work its way outward, the thighs and buttocks are the common areas affected.”

If left untreated, the rash will continue to spread onto your groin, resulting in cracked skin and occasionally a foul odor.

How to Treat Jock Itch

It’s tempting to want to just grab an OTC relief product and slap it on. But Ife J. Rodney, MD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics in Fulton, MD, says a better first-line treatment is a prescription antifungal wash, which you lather up, wash with, leave on for 10 minutes, and then rinse off and dry the area thoroughly. “I recommend it because the moisture in the groin area is a main reason that fungal organisms thrive there. As the wash is rinsed off after 10 minutes, it does not add moisture to the area (unlike the topical antifungal creams). I also prefer it to the drying powders, because the wash is able to get into all the tiny crevices and hard-to-reach areas,” she says.

You can, however, pair it with antifungal creams or drying powders. If you choose to do that, Dr. Radusky recommends a powder such as Zeasorb. “You can try over-the-counter clotrimazole 1% or tolnaftate 1% creams,” he says. Avoid ointments: They tend to be greasy and promote moisture retention, which will only make your jock itch worse.

Another option: “Terbinafine, the active ingredient in athlete’s foot medication, can also be safely and effectively used in the genital area,” says Dr. Rodney.

If you’re not seeing an improvement in a few weeks, or if the redness is spreading or is characterized by painful, cracked skin, it’s a good idea to check in with a doctor.

Jock itch can sometimes be confused for other conditions (see 8 more reasons your crotch might be itchy), which is why it’s important to see a board-certified dermatologist. “The rashes of psoriasis, certain bacterial infections, and yeast look similar, and the treatments are quite different,” Dr. Radusky says.

Jock itch is an infection of skin-loving fungus in the genital area. Doctors call this infection tinea cruris. The infection causes redness, itching, and a strong, often distinctive, smell. An estimated 20 percent of people in the world have experienced jock itch at some point in their lives, according to a systematic review on the topic. Not only is jock itch strong-smelling, but it’s uncomfortable. Keep reading to find out how to recognize it and what you can do about it if you have it.

Jock itch can cause a musty, foul-smelling (especially in severe cases) odor. The smell can be yeast-like in nature, which you may have smelled before when something like a loaf of bread becomes moldy. Sometimes, the smell may also have a sour aspect.

You’ll also see other signs of jock itch, including an itchy rash around the groin that may be red, slightly swollen and sometimes painful.

Doctors don’t use smell to diagnose jock itch, however. They can usually look at the appearance of the genital, pubic or perineal areas to determine the likely cause. Ideally, you should be able to treat jock itch before the smell is so profound that others can smell it.

The fungi that cause jock itch are responsible for its smell. These fungi give off compounds that have a musty smell. The more severe the infection, the more fungus that is present, which can increase the smell.

If you are also sweating in the affected area, bacteria that naturally live in skin folds in the body may also contribute to a jock itch smell.

People use fungi to create some foods and drinks like beer and bread. The fungi create chemical reactions necessary for the food’s production. While the smell isn’t exactly the same, some people may notice old food products have a similar musty, unpleasant smell as jock itch. This is due to the overgrowth of excess fungus in both situations.

Keeping affected areas clean and dry can help treat jock itch and prevent it from coming back. Some of the other ways to treat jock itch include:

• always wearing clean clothing
• changing out of sweaty clothing after exercising or playing sports
• when showering, cleaning the genital area with a mild soap
• not wearing tight-fitting clothes
• drying completely after bathing before putting on clothes
• applying topical anti-fungal OTC medications with terbinafine, clotrimazole, and miconazole to clean, dry skin as directed
• avoiding walking barefoot, especially in public showers (fungal infections can easily transfer from the feet to the groin)

See a doctor if over-the-counter treatments aren’t effective. They can likely prescribe stronger treatments, such as oral terbinafine and itraconazole .

Make sure to use them as directed. Stopping too soon can allow fungi to come back more easily, even if you aren’t having symptoms any more.

Some medications aren’t effective in treating jock itch. These include nystatin powder, which doctors may prescribe to treat fungal skin infections. Nystatin treats a different fungus type than the fungus that causes jock itch.

Topical anti-itch steroids also may make jock itch worse instead of better.

The fungus that causes jock itch thrive in warm, moist environments. Wearing tight-fitting underwear or clothing can increase the likelihood you’ll sweat, which further attracts the fungus. Men, especially adolescent men, are more likely to get jock itch .

Other risk factors for jock itch include:

• diabetes
• excessive sweating
• immunocompromised health
• playing sports, especially contact sports
• poor hygiene

Doctors have also found that some people’s genetic history may increase their risks for jock itch. Genetics may determine the natural flora and fauna (including fungi) that live on a person’s skin.

Fungi are naturally present on your body. It’s when they grow in large numbers that infections like jock itch can occur. By removing sweaty clothing, keeping the skin clean and dry, and refraining from wearing excessively tight clothing, you can prevent this overgrowth whenever possible.

Jock itch has a yeasty smell that is due to the fungal overgrowth present on the body. Keeping the affected areas clean and dry and applying topical creams can help to reduce the smell until you eliminate the infection. If you keep experiencing jock itch, see a doctor. The yeasts that tend to cause jock itch in your body may have built up over time, leading to resistance to over-the-counter treatments.

difference between eczema and jock itch

The scrotum is located in the crotch area of the body that is a always warm and moist. If not properly taken care of can become a home for all forms of fungi and bacteria. Once an infection or disease break out It becomes difficult to identify the root cause.

Eczema and jock itch disease are very difficult to differentiate because they show similar symptoms in patients who is infected in any of them.

This article will seek to differentiate the difference between eczema and jock itch disease because most people hardly can tell the difference.

Table of Contents

What is Eczema?

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin that causes the skin to be red, dry and at times scaly. Eczema results from the inability of the skin to produce more oil naturally that protect the skin from diseases.

There are different types of Eczema but the predominant type is the seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis which affect about 15 million people in the US alone. Children are not left out from this infection as it affects both infant but majority of them outgrow it.

At the moment no one seems to know the actual cause of eczema but it has been attributed to weak immune system, allergic to some reactions such as perfumes , chemicals, detergent and even jewelry and ornaments we put on.

Eczema can be treated with natural means and also with topical steroid creams that comes under various brand.

Part prone to eczema

Eczema can appear around any part of the body but it is often pronounced on the following part of the body.

• hands
• feet
• scalp
• face
• back of the knees
• inner sides of elbows

What is jock itch?

Jock itch is a fungi infection cause by dermatophytes. It is characterized by itchy, red and often ring-shaped rash. Jock itch is more pronoun on individual who are overweight because their folded skin provides the breading space for fungi to leave and multiple as they like if left unchecked.

Diabetes patients and Athletes or people who easily sweet after doing little or no Exercise might also develop this illness.

Individual who have weak immune system can also easily get infected by this skin disease.

Can joke itch be transmitted from person to person?

Yes joke itch can be transmitted from one person to another if they both shared the same underwear, towels or even clothing that has been contaminated by an infected patient.

Symptoms :

When jock itch infect a patient that area becomes red and burning, it often comes with itching and scaling skin. Read more so that you can learn how to easily differentiate between eczema and jock itch disease.

How to prevent joke itch

Always put on clean clothes : good personal hygiene is one of the best tactics to adopt if you truly want to stay free from this infection. Always make sure your cloths are clean most importantly your underwear.

Don’t share personal items: this is a communicable disease that can spread from person to person through shared person items like cloths, shoe, underwear, towel and even sponge. Make sure all this items mentioned above are completely keep from the reach of anyone you suspect to have this infection.

Always wash your self properly: its important you wash your crotch area properly with good antiseptic soap that are hash to the skin when you are having your bath.

Treating jock itch

Prevention is better than cure they say. Maintaining good hygiene is a key to not only prevent it from happening but also to treat jock itch.

Always ensure that your underwear are always wash and sundry properly to kill any fungi infection that might break out.

You could go any store to get any recommended cream of any kind after seeing your doctor,Apply it on that area for at least 2 weeks to completely get rid of this disease.

difference between eczema and jock itch

Conclusion
Eczema remains a chronic disease that can’t be cured but can be suppressd and manage effectively.
Healthy diet remains the best alternative to boost the immune system to be able to protect the body from foreign body.

If situation didn’t improve after few weeks it best for you to see for medical advice or even run a test to know the underlying causes of any disease or infection.

Regina chinyere . Am your regular Dermatologist with 8 years of experience, you can contact me on any of my social media accounts

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Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 3, 2020.

• Overview
• Aftercare Instructions
• En Español

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Jock itch is a rash on your groin. The groin is the area between your abdomen and legs. Jock itch is usually easy to treat and prevent. It is caused by a fungus. The fungus also causes athlete’s foot.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Fungus medicine: Jock itch is usually treated with a cream that kills the fungus. Apply the cream to the rash and the skin around it as directed. You may need to apply the cream 1 to 2 times each day for 2 weeks. You may be given this medicine as a pill if the cream does not help.
• Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him or her if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.

Manage and prevent jock itch:

• Keep the area dry.
• Wear light, loose clothes. Do not share clothes.
• Do not wear wet clothes for long periods. Wash athletic gear after you play sports.
• Bathe daily. Dry your skin completely after you bathe. Apply cream or powder after you bathe as directed if you get jock itch often. Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of the fungus. You may want to wear disposable gloves when you clean your feet. The gloves will keep the fungus from moving from your feet to your hands.
• Use separate towels to dry each part of your body. Put your socks on before you put on your underwear so you do not spread the fungus from your feet to your groin.
• Lose weight if you weigh more than your healthcare provider suggests.

Follow up with your healthcare provider or skin specialist as directed:

Your healthcare provider will examine your rash to see how well it is healing. If you take medicine as a pill, he may draw blood to check how your liver and kidneys are working. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

Contact your healthcare provider or skin specialist if:

• Your signs and symptoms do not get better within 2 weeks of treatment.
• Your signs and symptoms get worse or come back after treatment.
• You get a rash on a part of your body other than your groin.
• You have a fever.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2020 Information is for End User’s use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. All illustrations and images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or IBM Watson Health

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Leading the crusade to find a jock itch cure for your symptoms today.

Are you wondering if your girlfriend will notice your jock itch?

Are you having problems in your groin area? Is it itching? Are you too embarrassed to talk about jock itch to your partner? Will she suspect about your fidelity and think that something else might be causing the problem down there?

If the answer is yes to the above questions you’d better tell her. You as a man should know how girls are when something is kept hidden from them. I think all men have been there (do you really want to go back?)

There is nothing to be embarrassed about. It is better to accept the problem once it is there and treat it as soon as possible. Jock itch is a mildly contagious too, so it’s better to let the cat out of the bag sooner rather than later (or risk the wrath!).

It is normal to have a certain level of discomfort when it comes to talking about problems regarding the groin area, genital area and sex in general. After all, it’t not exactly dinner time conversation (“So, honey, I have a itchy rash on my long john, please pass the peas”) – and if you find it hard to abstain from sex (pun intended), it’s probably better for you and your better half to lay off the night-time nookie until the rash is completely gone. However, keep in mind that jock itch is a very common groin rash, so you are not alone. There are plenty of men, all around the world having the same problem as you do. Understanding what a jock itch is, knowing how to recognize its signs and symptoms and knowing how to treat and prevent future jock itch problems is a must.

What is jock itch?

“Jock itch”, also known as tinea cruris, is a fungal infection which affects the genital area, inner thighs and buttocks of a man. It can affect women too, though men have a higher risk.

A jock itch is a form of ringworm. People often assume that ringworm is a type of worm, but it is, in fact a fungal infection. This ringworm, in particular, was named as “jock itch” because it is most common among athletes and otherwise very physical people who tend to sweat a lot. Heat and moisture represents a good environment for the fungus to develop, leading to rash in the affected area.

How to recognise jock itch

A jock itch presents itself as a red rash originating from the point of infection, usually around the groin, inner thigh or buttocks. It spreads out from this point outwards affecting other regions. The area under the rash often becomes flaky or rough but not painful to the touch, although it is usually itchy, just like the name suggests. Go figure!

Wearing clothes, however, may cause pain and discomfort as the fabric rubs against the rash. Along the border, too, you may notice small blisters at the edge of the rash. Not a pretty sight, but completely normal!

Although the infection is most common among men, women can also be infected by jock itch as it affects active people, regardless of gender. Besides, it is also possible to have both jock itch and athlete’s foot at the same time.

Jock itch and sex life

If you’ve got jock itch and a hankering for some night time loving, beware – the infection is transferrable during sex even (though this doesn’t always happen). And the latex sheild of a condom cannot prevent its transmission. The only way out is to get it treated before having sex again. Abstinence is recommended at least until the rash fades, usually 10-14 days after the treatment has started.

Be honest and tell your partner about your jock itch

Jock itch is described as mildly contagious medical condition because direct contact between the infected and uninfected individuals can transfer the ringworm. Even then, the newly infected individual has to provide a similarly moist and warm environment for the ringworm to grow, which does not always happen. Nevertheless, it is advisable to avoid sexual contact when you have the infection because the groin area is usually warm and moist regardless of the level of physical activity.

Besides with direct contact, sharing the same clothing or towels can spread the infection from one person to another.

So the possibilities of your girlfriend getting jock itch are high. But as mentioned, even when the fungi is spread through direct contact while having sexual intercourse or sharing the same clothes and towels, they will need to find a perfect, moist, and warm environment for them to continue to grow and multiply. This is not always the case, even though there is a great chance that your partner will get it too.

Be honest and talk about jock itch to your partner. There’s no sure-fire way to bring it up, though maybe don;t talk about it over a romantic, candle-lit dinner. There is always a good explanation of how you have got the dreaded jock itch, so discuss what treatment you are seeking ( here’s some recommendations ), and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your sexual life again!

Treatment of jock itch

A jock itch often resolves on its own even without a treatment. The signs and symptoms of jock itch also tend to come and go and in persistent cases even antifungal pills are recommended.

A doctor will usually tell a jock itch just from looking at the infected area and noting the above symptoms. Sometimes, the rash may not be very clear, though, leading the doctor to suspect to other causes. In these cases, they may take a few scrapings of the skin from the infected area and have a look under a microscope or create a culture.

You have nothing to worry about if the diagnosis comes back positive, despite being uncomfortable or even embarrassing, as jock itch is not serious. Over-the-counter antifungal ointments can take care of the infection quickly. These medications can also come in the form of powders or sprays if you prefer, and the rash should disappear within a few days. Even then, keep applying the medication for at least 10 days to make sure it’s gone, (definitely gone!).

If you also have athlete’s foot at the same time, treat them both together because they’re both caused by similar fungus and can cause recurrence. Severe jock itch can be resistant to topical ointments, in which case the doctor will prescribe stronger creams although this rarely occurs.

Avoiding the infection

It’s always better to avoid the infection in the first place, rather than having to deal with it thereafter. Observing these simple steps will keep you safe:

• Take a shower immediately after a heavy workout. Take an extra attention to the groin area. Afterwards, make sure you dry yourself off properly with a clean towel. Do not share a towel with anyone, and if possible, avoid public showers which can be a host to fungus.
• During workouts or games and even afterwards, avoid wearing tight underwear if you can, or just make sure to keep them clean.
• Obese individuals are also at risk of jock itch, but proper hygiene can keep the infection away.

If you need more information about jock itch and if you need to find out how to get rid of your problem please get a look at:

Your groin is a popular spot for fungi to mingle. The fungi are called dermatophytes, and they’re always on your skin. In those dark, damp conditions that sometimes occur “down there,” dermatophytes can also multiply and spread. Make it dark and damp enough, and these fungi can grow out of control.

If you add sweat and friction to the mix, those points-of-contact and skin folds in your leg and groin area become agitated, and the skin breaks. Bacteria get into the wound, inflaming the skin. The bacteria then multiply under the dank conditions that sometimes occur in your groin area.

There are several different fungal infections that can take root south of your torso. There’s intertrigo, a common rash that appears brownish, oozy and, in time, crusty. Up close, the affected area will appear to have tiny little lacerations. Or it could be folliculitis, in which your hair follicles form little whiteheads. Perhaps it’s inverse psoriasis, usually caused by thighs rubbing against each other and resulting in redness. And then there’s erythrasma, a bacterial infection that gets red and just mildly itchy.

But the most infamous groin rash starts pretty inconspicuously, as a little itch that’s hardly a bother. Give it time, though, and that itch will grow to crazy proportions, leading to relief-seeking behaviors that aren’t appropriate in most public spaces. This itchy predicament is known as tinea cruris, or jock itch.

Here’s to hoping the affected area is in the crease where your leg meets your torso. That’s your groin, and it’s a common place for jock itch to start. Under the right (or wrong) conditions, it can spread to your inner thighs or your buttocks. It can even spread to your genitals or anus.

But only jocks get it, right? Yeah, they do — but you can, too. Contrary to popular belief, jock itch affects both men and women, athletes and nonathletes.

What else should you know about jock itch? How do you get it, how do you prevent it, and how the heck do you get rid of it? You’re going to be laundering some undies today, but hold off until you read the next page.

Jock itch is a fungal infection that often occurs right in the crease where your leg attaches to your lower abdomen. While most of the time your infection will be “home-grown,” you can catch it from other people, too. Jock itch spreads from person to person through the sharing of towels, pants or undergarments, or through sexual contact. If you have athlete’s foot, you can even spread it to yourself if your feet make contact with your undergarments or pants when you dress, spreading the fungal infection to your groin area.

Although anyone can get it, jock itch shows up most often on middle-aged men. People who are overweight or have diabetes and those with weak immune systems are also at increased risk of developing it.

Don’t let the name of the condition slander the reputations of jocks — jock itch gained its moniker because sweat is usually a primary culprit in its rampant fungal growth. Sweat washes away natural protective oils on your skin that normally keep the ever-present fungi in check. Excessive sweating also sets the stage for bacterial reproduction.

Other contributing factors include:

• Rubbing from snug-fitting underwear
• Skin-on-skin friction
• Immune response from agitated skin
• Heat and humidity

So what does jock itch look like? Sometimes, it may not look like anything at all. Jock itch can be very itchy — even causing a burning sensation — without the presence of a visible rash. However, it can worsen from continued friction with undergarments, as well as continued heat, humidity and direct moisture. Given enough time, you’ll be able to see a red or pink rash. The rash may be in the form of near-perfect circles, and the area may be scaly-looking. Skin may crack or peel, and tiny bumps may form at the hair follicles.

You don’t want to leave jock itch untreated, and you’ll have a constant itchy reminder not to do so. If left untreated, jock itch can lead to all kinds of troubles, like ulcers, open sores, abscesses and cellulitis, a potentially life-threatening skin infection. If it spreads to the genitals, it can cause infection, especially in uncircumcised men. Women may develop yeast infections.

Got your attention? On the next page, we’ll learn how to prevent this from happening in the first place, and how to get rid of jock itch before it turns an otherwise perfectly good groin bad.

Your best bet for preventing jock itch is good hygiene. Good hygiene will also go a long way toward getting rid of it if you already have it. Other times, advanced measures are called for.

You may know right away you have jock itch, especially if you’ve had it before. If not, a doctor can diagnose it visually, and will usually confirm suspicions with a simple skin swab. A bacterial culture may be collected to make sure you don’t have a staph infection.

Some simple adjustments can be made to turn the tide on jock itch. For starters, wash several times a day with a non-soap cleanser or even just water. You don’t want to use soap because it may agitate your now-sensitive skin.

If you have a large pile of unwashed shorts, underwear or athletic supporters somewhere, you’re going to want to start washing those regularly. Since your skin is sensitive right now, don’t launder clothes using fabric softeners or scented detergents. Also, make cotton the fabric of your fungal life. This material breathes well, and will help eliminate some of the damp or confined conditions that can occur when you wear other materials, especially during or after exercise.

There are several over-the-counter anti-fungal sprays, shampoos and creams available. These should be applied after bathing or cleaning the affected area. Topical treatments may include clotrimazole, which keeps fungal cells from developing membranes. Betamethasone is another common topical medication that suppresses inflammation and prevents your body’s natural immune response to the skin agitation from worsening the situation. These two drugs are commonly combined in the same cream or lotion.

Anti-fungal medications should be rubbed onto affected areas, which should then be left unbandaged and allowed to “breathe” as much as possible. Of course, follow all directions for the product you use, and if you don’t see any improvements in about a week, consult with your doctor. If you have a particularly stubborn case of jock itch, your doctor may prescribe anti-fungal pills that should knock it out.

Once jock itch goes away, you may notice discoloration in the area that has healed. This should go away with a little time, and scarring is unusual.

For lots more information on jock itch and skin care, see the next page.

Today, we’re going to talk a little bit about recognizing jock itch. How do you know if you’ve got it? How do you know if you’re suffering with this condition? Jock itch is a condition that affects men, but it can affect women.

Jock itch is generally a condition caused by some kind of fungus. You’ve all heard about Candida. Candida albicans is a common thing that we talk about, but Candida itself is not really a yeast that affects the groin of guys, necessarily. Candida albicans is associated with women’s vaginal infections, but not so much with a guy if he’s got it around the scrotal region or the inner thigh or around the rectal region. Those areas aren’t really so much affected by Candida, but probably more so by trichophyton or various sort of molds like that. So tinea cruris is another organism that can affect the groin region of the guy. How do we know we’ve got this thing? What are the signs and symptoms?

Let’s look at what signs and symptoms are for starters. Signs is something that the doctor recognizes. The doctor can see these. The doctor can do a scraping and actually culture that and get that checked out. That’s a sign that you’ve got a condition. A sign is also a redness or discoloration of the skin. That’s very objective. You can see that. It’s tangible. It’s quantifiable.

A symptom is what you’re feeling. You’re experiencing the symptom. Symptoms aren’t something we can necessarily see or quantify with a test. A symptom is subjective. You can feel pretty bad and yet the doctor may not be able to recognize this is a sign and maybe even say you’ve got it all in your head, and some people with Candida are often told that they’re going crazy and there’s nothing wrong with them.

So symptoms and signs are what you commonly experience. For symptoms of athlete’s foot, itching because we can’t really see itching, but we experience it. We can feel it. And, generally, the itching, I find, will often start on one part of the body first, so the guy will often experience itching here, for example, on the side here right around this region here. He could experience it on both sides or around underneath here, but will generally experience it on one side first. And then when he’s got that on one side, he’s going to be scratching that pretty bad. It could be anything ranging from mild scratch up to like a real severe scratch, bad scratch. It can also not just involve the inner thigh up around the scrotal region, but it can involve the whole penis region or around the anal region as well. I’ve seen people so bad with it. The skin is just cracked and bleeding. It’s pretty shocking.

Jock itch can involve that whole area. But the characteristic symptom you’re going to experience is itching. Now that itching can sometimes be relieved by hot water or cold water that can sometimes make it feel better. The signs are really the rash, so you’re going to see a rash here. It’ll be a red rash, and there could be a bit of bronzing or browning sort of towards the center of the rash. There could be little blisters or bubbles around it. You really don’t want to scratch this with your fingernails. If you’ve got fingernails and you’re going to get into it and scratch it, you can really rip the skin open and create bacterial infections. So then you not only got jock itch to contend with, but you’ve got a bacterial infection that will need some kind of an antibiotic or cream to heal that, so you really don’t want to go there and scratch the hell out of it. It’s not going to fix it up.

So sometimes cold or hot water applications will make it feel better. You can also use different types of natural products on this. Tea tree oil based soap to wash the area twice a day with is a pretty smart move, and also some tea tree oil cream I find to be quite good.

Check out my other videos and I’ll talk also about lifestyle and diet changes, alcohol, foods you can eat that aggravate it, and things like that. So you’ll pick up some more tips on this channel.

I hope that sort of answers your question about the signs and symptoms of jock itch. The itch is characteristic. There can be a musty odor about it sometimes as well. The redness or the bronzing or the browning, these are all common things that you’ll experience as well.

Okay. So you have ringworm. A physician gave you a fungal exposure test, and you’ve received instructions to apply an anti-fungal ointment or white cream every day. You’ve got this!

After several days of treatment, the itch went away and even the redness is reduced. You feel normal again. Are you cured?

In a word: No. The healing has only just begun! As you’re about to see in the upcoming ringworm healing chart, a typical ringworm infection, even with treatment takes 2-4 weeks to be fully eradicated. What’s more is as long as you have ringworm, you can infect someone else and they, in turn, can re-infect you.

Please also note: if you have pets, your home is even more susceptible to the never ending cycle of ringworm and the passing of ringworm back and forth until the fungus is removed from your home. If this sounds familiar, read our in-house article: cleaners that kill ringworm.

Let’s cover the stages of healing so you can get an idea of where you might be in the process and then we’ll cover some other FAQ’s about ringworm.

Stages of Ringworm Healing Chart

Here is a visual chart of the progression of ringworm. It sequences a ringworm infection from first exposure to the time you’re completely healed. The color zone means you are contagious and can pass ringworm spores to someone else (or your pet).

How long does ringworm take to appear?

The typical symptoms of a ringworm fungal infection are: redness, irritation, itching, cracked or scaly skin, bumps and/or ring-shaped rashes.

These symptoms appear within one or two weeks following contact with the infecting source. Most often it will appear on one of these areas of the body: the toes and feet (tinea pedis; “athlete’s foot”), underarms or torso (tinea corpus),and the genitals or buttocks (tinea cruris; “jock itch”).

It may also occur on the scalp when hair is regularly sweat-laden and hot, such as under a hard hat. This last type of infection should be treated immediately by a doctor as it can be more severe.

How long does ringworm take to heal?

While the actual length of time will differ from person to person, it generally takes 2-4 weeks for the condition to clear up with treatment. Here are some ways to tell where you are in the healing process:

Stages of Ringworm Healing – With Treatment

Stage 1: Less itching

The first symptoms of ringworm that will diminish during treatment are the itching and redness. Blisters and the ring-shaped rash will still be present, but may look less red and irritated. It is important that you continue using the anti-fungal even though you may be “feeling better.”

Stage 2: Flaky skin appearing

The next sign the ringworm infection is healing is the appearance of flaky skin. Do not use hand or body lotions unless instructed by your physician. Wash the skin with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Continue applying your anti-fungal ointment as prescribed.

Stage 3: Skin sores oozing

Oozing sores are the body’s way of flushing infection. Do not prematurely puncture or drain blisters. Wash only with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Continue applying your anti-fungal ointment as prescribed.

Stage 4: Redness fading

Skin will appear mostly normal with minor blemishes. During this stage your prescription will may run out. Still wash area with care and watch for any breaks in the skin or return of symptoms. Consult your Dr. at once if you’re re-entering the cycle.

How to tell if skin fungus is dying

Two to four weeks is a long time for a ringworm infection to heal. How can you be sure the otc ointment or prescribed fungal cream is doing its job? When you are applying the anti-fungal ointment every day, you may wonder about some things you see at the infection site:

Why does ringworm cause flaking skin?

Dry or flaky skin is a sign that the fungus is being deprived of the damp, musty conditions it needed to grow. This is good! Wash with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Do not rub, or scarring may occur.

Does ringworm ooze when healing?

Yes. Even if you’re avoiding scratching or rubbing, some parts of the infected area may ooze or drip. This draining is necessary for the healing to progress properly. Wash carefully with warm water and a soft cloth. Alcohols or antiseptics can damage the healing skin so follow Dr’s orders only.

The oozing condition will diminish over time as the infecting fungus is killed off and healthy skin replaces it.

Back to the doctor?

The healing process does take time and goes through several stages. Most doctors and pharmacists will tell you to KEEP using the cream even though you think the ringworm is gone. Visit your doctor if:

• the infection appears to spread
• the healing seems “stuck” in one stage
• the rash returns: redness, irritation, itching, cracked or scaly skin, bumps and/or ring-shaped rashes.

Preventing future infections

How can you avoid a ringworm infection in the future? Remember, the fungus that causes ringworm thrives in damp, dark places. Pay particular attention to body areas with joints and creases where sweat and dirt can easily collect.

Here are a few preventative measures:

• Avoid areas where fungal infections are common
• Wear protective gloves while treating another infected person or animal.
• Wear clean breathable fabrics, like cotton, around feet and genitals.
• Dry skin thoroughly before dressing.
• Wash sweat and grime from skin and hair as soon as possible following vigorous activity.

Background: What is ringworm?

Despite the name, ringworm is not a worm infection. Ringworm infections are a type of dermatophyte (skin infection) and cannot be treated with a de-wormer. Ringworm is caused by contact with fungus. Fungus thrives in dark, damp areas and can infect people or animals. Ringworm can infect almost any part of the body if the climate is hot and humid.

Ringworm can be transmitted animal to human, and human to human as long as the lesions or ring-shaped marks are visible, oozing, or otherwise opened.

Ringworm Healing Summary

Some ringworm infections can be severe and require systemic treatment by a doctor (such as the scalp variety). However, most are successfully treated by applying an anti-fungal ointment to the infection site. The ointment can be prescribed by a doctor or purchased over the counter. The active ingredient in most anti-fungal ointments for humans is clotrimazole.

The ointment is typically applied for two weeks, but it can take up to four weeks to resolve some severe infections. Follow your doctor’s instructions.