Jock itch (also known as tinea cruris) is a common fungal infection who affects the skin of the inner thighs, buttocks and genitals. The fungus that makes jock itch thrives in warm, moist areas. As a result, it makes an itchy, red, often ring-shaped foolish in such warm, moist areas of the body.
Jock itch (tinea cruris) is a surface (superficial) fungal infection of the skin on either side of the person where the thigh joins the abdomen, known as the groin. It is often spread to the groin from tinea infection on the feet (tinea pedis or athlete’s feet).
Jock Itch Causes
Jock itch is caused by a fungus who live on your skin. The name of the fungus is Tinea cruris, and is related to the athlete’s foot fungus. Jocks are not the only people who get jock itch – men who sweat a lot can also get it, and sometimes women too. This fungus likes to develop and make a home in the warm, moist portions of the genital area, particularly the insides of the thighs. The rash makes the area itch, indicates the skin to become red and sometimes crack or peel.
Jock itch is caused by a fungus, often the same one the leads to athlete’s foot. Sometimes it is transferred by a towel used to dry the feet and then the groin area.
Jock Itch Symptoms
The acute infection begins with an itchy area of redness about a half-inch across. The section may enlarge, and other sores may occur in no discernable pattern. It appears as lifted red plaques (platelike areas) with sharp borders. The border may exhibit small pimples or even pustules with crucial areas that are reddish and dry with small scales.
Jock Itch Diagnosis
The best way to diagnose tinea cruris is to look for hyphae under a scope, a Potassium hydroxide test. The skin is scraped with a scalpel or glass slide causing dead skin cells to fall off onto a glass slide. A few drops of Potassium hydroxide are added to the slide and the slide is heated for a short time. The Potassium hydroxide dissolves the material binding the skin cells together releasing the hyphae, but it does not distort the cell or the hyphae. Special stains such as Chlorazol Fungal Stain, Swartz Lamkins Fungal Stain, or Parker’s blue ink can be applied to help visualize the hyphae better.
Jock Itch Treatment
1. Wash the rash in soap and water. Gently remove any pieces of dried skin, and spread an antifungal cream covering the rash. Apply the cream beyond the outside edge of the rash.
2. Jock itch is treated with one of two types of antifungal medications — azoles or allylamines. Generally, allylamines require a shorter treatment time, additonally azoles are less expensive but force longer treatment time.
3. For a mild case of jock itch, your doctor may mean original using an over-the-counter antifungal ointment, lotion, powder or spray.
4. If you have jock itch and athlete’s foot, you should treat both to prevent re-infecting your groin when you put on your underwear.