What is jock itch?

Jock itch is a fungal infection of the groin. The fungus that causes jock itch lives on the skin. It often affects male athletes, but anyone can get jock itch. Your child may get an itchy rash on the inner thighs and rear end (buttocks). It spreads and starts to itch when your child sweats or is in steamy showers or locker rooms.

Jock itch should end soon if your child keeps the skin dry after cleaning it. You can treat jock itch at home with antifungal creams that you can buy without a prescription.

Symptoms of jock itch include the following:

• Itching and pain are common.
• A rash is on the groin, skin folds, inner thighs, or buttocks. The rash usually does not occur on the scrotum or penis.
• The edge of the rash is very distinct and may be scaly or have bumps that look like blisters.
• The center of the rash may have a red-brown color.

Most ringworm infections of the skin, such as jock itch, can be treated at home with antifungal creams you can buy without a prescription. But have your doctor look at any infection that does not go away, is severe, or comes back. To treat jock itch, follow these steps:

• Wash the rash with soap and water. Pat the skin dry. Spread an antifungal cream over the rash. Apply the cream beyond the edge of the rash.
• Use an antifungal cream. You can buy this product without a prescription. Follow the directions on the package, and don't stop using the medicine just because your symptoms go away. Use the medicine exactly as the label says. If symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks, call your doctor.
• If you have jock itch and athlete's foot, you should treat both to prevent reinfecting your groin when you put on your underwear. (Putting your socks on before your underwear may help to prevent reinfection from your feet.)

You can help prevent jock itch by keeping your groin, inner thighs, and buttocks clean and dry. Dry off well after you exercise and shower. Try these other steps to prevent jock itch:

• Wash your workout clothes, underwear, socks, and towels after each use.
• Wear shower shoes when you use public showers and locker rooms.
• If you have athlete's foot, you should treat it. During treatment, put your socks on before you put on your underwear. This will prevent the spread of the fungus from your feet to your groin.
• If you keep getting athlete's foot, dry your feet last when you towel off after a shower or bath. This can help prevent spreading infection from your feet to your groin.

Jock itch is annoying, but it usually is not serious. If you have had jock itch in the past, you may recognize the symptoms. Your doctor can tell if you have jock itch after asking questions about your symptoms and past health and by looking at your rash. Your doctor may scrape a little of the rash on a glass slide so that he or she can look at it under a microscope.

• Wash the rash with soap and water. Pat the skin dry.
• Put a cool compress on the skin to relieve itching.
• Spread antifungal cream over and around the entire edge of the rash. Follow the directions on the package.
• To avoid spreading it, wash your hands well after treating or touching the rash.
• If your doctor prescribed medicine, take it exactly as directed. Call your doctor if you have any problems with your medicine.
• Try not to scratch the rash.
• Shower or bathe daily and after you exercise.
• Keep your skin dry as much as possible to allow it to heal.
• Until your jock itch is cured, wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Avoid tight underwear, pants, and tights.
• Wash your supporters and shorts after every wearing.
• Do not share clothing, sports equipment, towels, or sheets to avoid spreading the fungi to other people.

To prevent jock itch

• Put on socks before you put on underwear if you have athlete's foot. This action helps prevent the fungus on your feet from spreading to your groin.
• Wash your workout clothes, underwear, socks, and towels after each use.
• Keep your groin, inner thighs, and buttocks clean and dry, especially after you exercise and shower.
• Do not borrow or lend clothing, sports equipment, towels, or sheets.
• Wear slippers or sandals in locker rooms, showers, and public bathing areas.

Jock itch (tinea cruris) is a form of ringworm. Ringworm is not a worm at all. It is a fungal infection of the outer layers of skin, hair, or nails. Fungi (plural of fungus) are present everywhere in our environment.

Ringworm of the skin appears as a rash with patches that may be red or peeling or that have bumps on the edges that look like blisters. The skin often is itchy, and the rash can spread quickly. You can have both jock itch and athlete's foot (tinea pedis) at the same time.

Jock itch is caused by a fungus. Fungi commonly grow on or in the top layer of skin. They may or may not cause an infection. Fungi grow best in warm, moist areas of the body such as the groin, inner thighs, and buttocks.

As the name suggests, jock itch mostly affects male athletes, but anyone can get it. Using public showers and locker rooms increases your chances of getting jock itch. Fungi grow best in the steamy rooms among damp towels, sweaty workout clothes, and wet floors. So it's not surprising that jock itch and athlete's foot often occur at the same time, since both are caused by fungi.