Health
Jock Itch Overview
Jock itch is an itchy rash of the groin that results from a superficial fungal infection of your skin. Men and women encounter the disease worldwide, although it is seen more often in the humid tropics. The rash may affect only your groin, but it may spread to include your inner thighs, genitals, and areas around your anus, rectum, or vagina.
Causes: Jock itch starts out as an itch or a burning sensation on your upper thighs, in the folds of skin in your groin, or on the area called the perineum between the scrotum and the anus. Jock itch sometimes affects the scrotum or the anus, but it doesn’t usually affect the penis. Within hours or days, it can feel like it’s consuming your whole life with pain and itch. It is caused by a fungus, often the same one that causes athlete’s foot. Sometimes it is transferred by a towel used first to dry the feet and then the groin area. It is much more common in men than women.
Treatment: Jock itch is treated with one of two types of antifungal medications — azoles or allylamines. Generally, allylamines require a shorter treatment time, while azoles are less expensive but require longer treatment time. For a mild case of jock itch, your doctor may suggest first using an over-the-counter antifungal ointment, lotion, powder or spray. Most ringworm infections of the skin, such as jock itch, can be treated at home with antifungal creams and powders you can buy without a prescription. But have your doctor look at any infection that does not go away, is severe, or comes back.
