What Is Jock Itch? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Jock itch is a type of fungal infection that affects the groin area, inner thighs, and buttocks.

Jock itch is highly treatable with over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

Although jock itch gets its name because it’s common in athletes, the condition is also experienced by people who sweat a lot or who are overweight.

Although it can be uncomfortable, jock itch usually isn’t serious. Treatment may involve keeping the groin area clean and dry and applying topical antifungal medications to the affected skin.

Jock itch often begins with a reddened area of skin in the crease in the groin, and it usually does not involve the scrotum or penis.

In lighter skin colors, the active border of a ringworm infection may be any shade of pink or red; in skin of intermediate color, deep red, maroon, or purple; and in darker skin, the border may be subtle, or it may appear purple or grayish.

However, these fungi multiply quickly when exposed to moisture over an extended period of time (for example, when you remain in sweat-soaked clothes after exercising).

The fungus that causes jock itch is highly contagious. You can get it through close personal contact with an infected person or through skin-to-skin contact. The fungus can also be spread through contact with the unwashed clothing of an infected person.

The infection often spreads from the feet to the groin because the fungus can travel on your hands or on a towel. You can also spread the infection by pulling up your underwear or pants if the waistband gets contaminated with the fungus from your feet.

• Being male
• Being a teen or young adult
• Wearing tight underwear
• Being overweight
• Sweating heavily
• Having a weakened immune system
• Having diabetes

People who are obese are at an increased risk for jock itch because of their moisture-trapping skinfolds.

If you have diabetes, your risk of jock itch is increased in two ways: the excess sugar emitted in your sweat provides food for fungus, and your immune system is not as strong in general, making you more at risk for common skin infections.

Your healthcare provider can usually diagnose jock itch based on how your skin looks.

Rarely, doctors may take a small scraping of your skin to look at under a microscope.

Tests are usually not necessary.

• A simple office test called a KOH exam to check for fungus
• Skin culture
• A skin biopsy, performed with a special stain called periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) to identify fungus and yeast

Prognosis of Jock Itch

Jock itch usually doesn’t go away on its own, but it can be easily treated and cured.

With proper treatment, jock itch should clear up in three to four weeks. If you don’t treat it, jock itch can last for months.

This infection often comes back more than once, especially if you also have fungal infections on your feet or toenails.

Jock itch can usually be treated with nonprescription antifungal creams, lotions, or powders applied to the skin for two to four weeks.

• clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche)
• miconazolel
• terbinafine (LamISIL)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)

If you are not responding to over-the-counter medications, your doctor may prescribe something stronger, including these topical medications:

• econazole
• oxiconazole (Oxistat)

You may also be prescribed one of these oral medications:

• fluconazole (Diflucan)
• itraconazole (Sporanox)

If you tend to get jock itch, you should continue to apply antifungal or drying powders after bathing to help prevent reoccurrence.

Prevention of Jock Itch

Practicing good hygiene is the best defense against jock itch. Regular hand-washing can greatly reduce your risk of getting this infection from someone else. It’s also important to keep your skin clean and dry, especially the area around your groin.

You should also avoid tight-fitting clothing that can further increase your risk of jock itch.

Wearing loose-fitting clothing, especially in hot and humid weather, can prevent sweat from creating the warm, moist environment in which the fungus thrives.

Be sure to wash your workout clothes after each use and don’t share clothing, towels, or personal items with others.

To avoid spreading athlete’s foot to your groin area, don’t use the same towel you use on your feet for your groin.

Putting socks on before underwear can also help prevent you spreading nail and foot fungus (athlete’s feet) to the groin area.

• Rash that spreads past the groin and onto the thighs, genitals, and buttocks
• Secondary skin infections, such as cellulitis or abscess formation from scratching or rubbing
• Temporary skin discoloration

• Psoriasis A common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells, psoriasis results in thick scaly patches called plaques. These plaques, which tend to itch, burn, or sting, most commonly appear on the knees, elbows, lower back, or scalp.

  

• Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) ACD is a common inflammatory disease of the skin that results in a rash. It is caused by direct contact with allergens such as nickel, poison ivy, rubber products, and paraphenylenediamine (PPDA), an ingredient found in permanent hair dyes.

  

• Hidradenitis Suppurativa This little-known disease, often mistaken for another condition (such as boils, infected hair follicles, or a sexually transmitted disease), causes deep and painful lumps under the skin, usually in the armpits or groin.

  

• Dandruff (Seborrheic Dermatitis) Dandruff, a common condition considered to be a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, causes the skin on the scalp to flake. It can almost always be controlled with a medicated shampoo.

  

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)

The AAD is a great resource for information about skin diseases and conditions. Although your primary care doctor can diagnose and treat jock itch, you can use this site to search for a dermatologist in your area if you prefer to see a specialist.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

This component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is a go-to source for up-to-date information, statistics, health-related travel advisories, and more. On the site, you can find detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for numerous forms of ringworm, including jock itch.

Additional reporting by Joseph Bennington-Castro.