What Causes Jock Itch in Men?

Jock Itch is a common skin condition prevalent in athletes but not limited to them. A group of fungi is responsible for affecting 29.4 million people in the United States, and most of them are men. Found naturally on your hair, nails, and skin, Tinea Cruris is relatively harmless until it gets moisture to thrive in.

However, there's no reason to fret as it can be eliminated and taken care of by consulting an online doctor and getting a treatment plan. But it's necessary to ensure that you get treatment for it ASAP as it's contagious and can spread to other people on contact. Continue reading this piece to learn more about Jock Itch.

Why Does Jock Itch Develop?

This is an infection that affects the skin around the inner thighs and groin area. However, in some cases, it may spread to the buttocks and abdomen. This happens because a group of fungi known as dermatophytes multiplies.

People who wear sweaty clothing for long periods are likely to develop jock itch. The fungi normally exist on your skin but are harmless until you become careless with your hygiene. These fungi need moisture to thrive, and clothes soaked in sweat provide them with the perfect environment to fester.

Sometimes, a person might develop this condition even when they remain clean. This is because the condition is highly contagious and can develop when you get in touch with an infected individual.

What Are The Symptoms Of Jock Itch?

Numerous symptoms indicate the development of jock itch. Here are a few of them:

• Redness or a burning sensation in the affected area
• Incessant itching
• Skin peeling
• Flaking or cracking skin
• Rashes that keep on worsening with exercise or other strenuous activities
• A significant change in skin color

What Are the Risk Factors?

Jock Itch usually affects the male population more than it does the female population. But several other factors put certain individuals at a higher risk of developing this infection. Here are some of them:

People who have intercourse with multiple partners often become the carriers of such an STD and can pass it on to other unsuspecting people. Semen and vaginal discharge are responsible for causing this infection, not just in the genitals but also in the anus, throat, and eye.

• Being a teenager
• Wearing skin-tight clothes that make your skin itch
• Staying in wet clothes for longer than necessary and not immediately changing them
• Sweat pooling in the groin area
• Not using your towels or sharing them with other people
• Being overweight increases the number of skin folds, or fat rolls between which bacteria might fester
• Having diabetes or a weak immune system
• Tendency to sweat more than usual

Is Jock Itch Difficult to Diagnose?

Your doctor can easily diagnose Jock Itch by simply observing the area that shows symptoms of the infection. But if they think the infection might be more than what it appears to be, they will request a sample of your skin cells. This is to ensure that you don't have psoriasis.

Is Jock Itch Treatable?

Your doctor might prescribe you over-the-counter medications to begin your treatment and then move on to stronger medication. These include two topical medications and oral antifungal medications. The former includes econazole or oxiconazole, while the latter consists of itraconazole or fluconazole.

When you start using oral antifungal medications, bear in mind that you might experience headaches. It might also affect your digestive system and cause an upset stomach. We encourage you to consult your doctor if you experience these side effects.

Can You Prevent Jock Itch?

Yes, jock itch is preventable. There are certain ways to ensure that jock itch doesn't affect you. Here are some preventative measures:

• 1.Wear clothes that aren't too tight. Allow your skin to breathe, and ensure that your clothing doesn't rub against and chafe the skin. One way to do that is to switch your boxer briefs with boxer shorts.
• 2.Ensure that you remain dry and clean at all times. After partaking in strenuous activities, clean your body with soap and water.
• 3.Applying moisture-wicking powder to your inner thighs and other areas also helps get rid of the moisture.
• 4.Keep your towels and other clothing items exclusive, and refrain from sharing them with others.
• 5.Wash your sports apparel after each use, and don't just hang them to dry.

Who's At a Higher Risk Of Developing Jock Itch?

Usually, people believe that only athletes are prone to developing jock itch. But that's not the truth. People who tend to sweat excessively or don't keep their bodies clean might experience jock itch. Often, jock itch affects people who are obese or have diabetes.

Can This Lead To Athlete's Foot?

Yes, it can! The same fungi responsible for Jock Itch are also responsible for developing Athlete's Foot. To avoid spreading them, keep your feet towel and groin cloth separate. Intermixing them allows the fungi to transfer from one place to the other and can cause not only Athlete's Foot but ringworm too. Ringworm is a common skin infection. It causes ring like patches to appear on skin, which are dry and flaky. The patches have a scaly border, and tend to e extremely itchy. The patches can appear anywhere on the skin, including the groin area, sole of the foot, hands, scalp etc.

Are you Looking for an Online Doctor?

Is Jock Itch troubling you? Or do you have a urinary tract infection that's causing pain? Get in touch with the telemedicine doctors at TelMDCare to seek help for these infections. Booking an appointment with our virtual doctors doesn't require you to leave the comfort of your home, and you can discuss your condition via online consultations.

Our doctors at TelMDCare also provide consultations for strep-throat infection, erectile dysfunction, and ear infections. Learn more about our services by visiting our website.