If you’ve ever been to gym class or played a sport, you’ve likely heard someone talking about jock itch. It’s one of the most common types of fungal infections that people experience, and knowing more about it can help you prevent it.
Known scientifically as Tinea cruris, jock itch is a common fungal infection caused by the fungus tinea. The tinea fungus mostly thrives in warm, wet areas of the body. Because of this, the fungus often infects the genitals, inner thighs, and buttocks.
It often appears in the summer months, and it manifests itself as a red, itchy rash that is shaped like a ring. It is slightly contagious, and it can spread between people through direct contact with another person or something that has been exposed to the fungus.
Symptoms include:
- Itching or burning in the groin or thigh area
- A rash that is circular, red, and raised
- A red groin or thigh area
- Flaking, peeling, or cracking skin
Most of the time, you can diagnose jock itch just by the way that it looks and the location. If you are wondering whether or not it is jock itch or something else, you can contact your doctor to have a look. For a firm diagnosis, they will need to take a sample of your skin cells.
Although jock itch can be uncomfortable, it’s very easy to treat. The treatment for jock itch usually calls for you to keep the infected area clean and dry in addition to applying a topical antifungal cream. While over-the-counter creams and sprays are usually more than enough to treat jock itch, some cases do require a prescription-strength cream.
If you think that you might have jock itch, you should set out to treat it immediately to keep it from spreading on your own body and to other people.
