What is Jock Itch?
Tinea cruris (ringworm of the groin) is a skin infection caused by a particular type of fungus. It is one of many opportunistic infections that can develop if conditions in the body are right. Also called jock itch, tinea cruris can develop if the groin area is moist for a long time, from friction caused by too tight clothing, poor hygiene, or through contact with infected persons or objects. This skin infection affects mainly adolescent boys and men, but women can develop it too.
Symptoms of Jock Itch
The primary symptom of jock itch is a red, scaly rash that appears on the groin, skin folds, or anus. If the infection spreads, it typically does so to the inner thighs. The rash may flake, crack, blister and ooze, and is usually redder around the edges and bare in the center. A person with tinea cruris may experience itching in the affected area and the skin may turn abnormally light or dark. Jock itch by itself does not smell, but may cause an unpleasant odor if combined with sweat and bacteria.
Jock itch is sometimes misdiagnosed as candidal intertrigo, which is a skin infection caused by the Candida albicans fungus. However, the rash caused by candidal intertrigo tends to be redder and wetter and may form on the penis (jock itch doesn’t). Candidal intertrigo infections also heal a lot quicker than jock itch.
Treatment of Jock Itch
Most of the time, jock itch can be diagnosed via visual inspection of the affected area. If there is any question about the diagnosis, a doctor may take a scraping of the rash and conduct a potassium hydroxide test to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, he or she may need to send the scrapings to be cultured and it can take a few days to receive confirmation. It is important to be sure that the rash is tinea cruris. If the infection is treated using the wrong medications, complications can arise.
The standard course of treatment for jock itch is antifungal lotion or cream that contains tolnaftate, clotrimazole, or miconazole. Mild infections usually go away within 2 weeks. If the tinea cruris is treatment resistant, spreads to other parts of the body, or your immune system is compromised, then your doctor may prescribe jock itch medication. This medication may take the form of a stronger antifungal cream or an oral medication like griseofulvin. Many people successfully treat jock itch using these medications, but it is important to remember that prescription drugs can cause side effects like diarrhea, headache, and nausea.
There are alternative medications made with all-natural ingredients that will quickly heal jock itch without unpleasant side effects. We looked at hundreds of products made from both well-known and independent companies and only found a few that we thought eliminated jock itch quickly and safely. Read our reviews of these fast-acting products to find the best one for you.
Jock Itch Home Remedy
In addition to keeping the area dry and avoiding clothing that rubs or irritates the area, you may have some success with a few home remedies designed to treat jock itch. Staying healthy is one way of preventing jock itch from occurring in the first place. People with a strong immune system can sometimes fight the infection before it becomes a problem. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and avoid refined foods that contain excess amounts of sugar and fat. Garlic also seems to inhibit the growth of fungal infections, so be sure to include plenty of it in your meals.
Dabbing the affected area with a bleach solution (2 tablespoons of bleach mixed with 16oz of hot water) may kill the infection. Isopropyl alcohol is another over-the-counter product that may inhibit the growth of the tinea cruris fungus. Other substances to try include tea tree oil, Aloe Vera juice, and apple cider vinegar. Whatever you do, always keep the area clean and dry to prevent the infection from returning or spreading.