Jock itch

Jock itch is an infection of the groin area caused by fungus or yeast. The medical term is tinea cruris, or ringworm of the groin.

Causes

Jock itch occurs when a type of fungus or yeast grows and spreads in the groin area.

Jock itch occurs mostly in adult men and teenage boys. Some persons who have this infection also have athlete's foot  or another kind of  ringworm . The fungus or yeast that causes jock itch thrives in warm, moist areas.

Athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is an infection of the feet caused by fungus or yeast. The medical term is tinea pedis, or ringworm of the foot.

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Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin infection due to a fungus or yeast. Often, there are several patches of ringworm on the skin at once. The medical name for ringw...

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Jock itch can be triggered by friction from clothes and prolonged moistness in the groin area, such as from sweating. A fungal or yeast infection of the feet can spread to the groin area by pulling up pants if the waistband gets contaminated with fungus or yeast from the feet.

Jock itch can be passed from one person to the next by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with unwashed clothing.

Symptoms

Jock itch usually stays around the creases of the upper thigh and does not involve the scrotum or penis. Jock itch may spread to the anus, causing anal itching and discomfort. Symptoms include:

• Red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze; patches often have sharply-defined edges with scale at the edges. 
• Patches are often redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center.
• Abnormally dark or light skin. Sometimes, these changes are permanent.

Exams and Tests

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

Tests are usually not necessary. If tests are needed, they may include:

• A simple office test called a  KOH exam to check for fungus or yeast

  KOH exam

  The skin lesion KOH exam is a test to diagnose a fungal infection of the skin.

  

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• Skin culture

  Skin culture

  A skin or nail culture is a laboratory test to look for and identify germs that cause problems with the skin or nails. It is called a mucosal culture...

  

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• A skin biopsy may also be performed with a special stain called PAS to identify fungus and yeast

  Skin biopsy

  A skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined. The skin is tested to look for skin conditions or diseases. A...

  

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Treatment

Jock itch usually responds to self-care within a couple of weeks:

• Keep the skin clean and dry in the groin area.
• Do not wear clothing that rubs and irritates the area. Wear loose-fitting underwear.
• Wash athletic supporters frequently.
• Over-the-counter antifungal or drying powders can help control the infection. These contain medicine, such as miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, or tolnaftate.

You may need treatment by a provider if your infection lasts longer than 2 weeks, is severe, or frequently returns. The provider may prescribe:

• Stronger topical (applied to the skin) antifungal medicines or oral antifungal medicines
• Antibiotics may be needed to treat bacterial infections that occur from scratching the area

If you tend to get jock itch, continue to apply antifungal or drying powders after bathing, even when you do not have jock itch.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Jock itch usually responds promptly to treatment. It is often less severe than other tinea infections, such as athlete's foot, but may last a long time.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if jock itch does not respond to home care after 2 weeks or you have other symptoms.