How To Treat Jock Itch

Contents

Changes in your diet can make a big difference in healing and prevention of jock itch. Foods that are high in sugars and carbohydrates often encourage fungus growth. Consider more whole fruits and vegetables daily. It’s also important to note that alcohol, especially beer, can cause yeast to grow. By reducing or eliminating your alcohol consumption, you may be able to keep jock itch problems from arising in the first place.

What Makes Jock Itch Resistant, and How to Treat It

Jock itch happens when a specific species of fungus builds up on the skin, growing out of control and causing inflammation. It’s also called tinea cruris.

Common symptoms of jock itch include:

redness or irritation
itchiness that doesn’t go away
scaling or dryness

Most cases of jock itch are mild and easily treated.

But there are some activities and “treatments” that can make jock itch symptoms last longer. Let’s dive into what can make jock itch worse, how to tell jock itch apart from other similar conditions, and how to successfully treat jock itch.

There are a few things you might do that unintentionally make your jock itch worse. Here are some examples:

Working out. This can cause the infected skin to chafe against nearby skin or with clothing and irritate it, making the skin more susceptible to a worsening infection.
Having poor hygiene habits. Using improperly cleaned, damp towels or clothing, and not keeping skin dry may promote infection.
Using the wrong treatment. Spreading an anti-itch cream, such as hydrocortisone, on the infected area won’t treat the infection — it can actually worsen it. This can increase the area of the infection or make the infection worse.
Having a weakened immune system. Taking immunosuppressants for autoimmune disorders or having a weakened immune system from medication or conditions like HIV can make it harder for your body to fight off fungal infections.

Some conditions look like jock itch, but they aren’t, so they won’t respond to typical tinea cruris treatment.

Inverse psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis is a type of psoriasis, an autoimmune condition, that may have a genetic basis.

Like jock itch, it tends to appear in the same areas where you skin chafes, like your groin or inner thighs. Some common treatments for inverse psoriasis include:

prescription topicals
oral medications
biologics

Yeast infection (thrush)

Yeast infections are a similar type of fungal infection caused by the fungus Candida.

They’re more common in people with vulvas, but they can also affect the penis from the head and shaft to the scrotum and the nearby groin skin.

Common treatments for yeast infections include:

antifungal topicals like nystatin or clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF)
oral antifungal medications, for more severe cases

With early and proper treatment, jock itch should go away within about a month.

Here are some signs that your jock itch is going away:

rash or redness begins to fade away
skin regains its usual color
symptoms like itchiness or irritation start to subside

Got an especially severe or resistant case of groin itching? Here’s what you should do if over-the-counter (OTC) topical treatments don’t work.

Take antifungal medication

A doctor may prescribe medication for severe jock itch. Here are some of the options:

oral medications like fluconazole (Diflucan) or itraconazole (Sporanox)
topicals like oxiconazole (Oxistat) or econazole (Ecoza)

Use an antifungal shampoo

Medicated shampoos that contain ketoconazole or selenium sulfide are a good, strong treatment for jock itch symptoms. They’re available by prescription from your doctor or over the counter.

They don’t typically have side effects, and OTC versions are easy to buy at most drugstores.

See a doctor if you’ve used OTC treatments but haven’t seen any improvements in your symptoms after 2 weeks.

A doctor may be able to prescribe you a medication that can help, or they can evaluate you for another type of skin disorder that can mimic jock itch.

Here are some tips for preventing jock itch:

Wash your hands regularly. This is especially important when you touch other people or are about to eat with your hands.
Keep the moist areas of your body clean and dry. This is especially important for areas around your groin and upper thighs.
Bathe at least once a day. Make sure to use gentle, unscented soap and dry off completely before putting clothes on. Bathe more than once a day if you’re active or sweat profusely throughout the day.
Don’t wear tight clothing. It can trap moisture and cause skin to chafe.
Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear. It’ll let your groin and thighs ventilate, especially if you live in a humid climate.
Wash your workout clothes or any equipment your body touches after a sweaty workout.
Have athlete’s foot? Don’t use the same towel on your feet and other areas of your body.Athlete’s foot and jock itch are both caused by tinea fungi and can spread to one another. Treating athlete’s foot is important for preventing jock itch.

Jock itch is typically easy to treat, but it can often come back.

Practice healthy hygiene habits to help prevent jock itch. Treat it early with OTC topicals when you first notice symptoms. If it doesn’t go away after a few weeks, see a doctor.

Last medically reviewed on October 22, 2019

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

8 reasons your groin itches and how to get relief. (n.d.).
aad.org/public/diseases/itchy-skin/groin-itch
Jock itch (tinea cruris). (2018).
health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/jock-itch-tinea-cruris-a-to-z
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Jock itch.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/jock-itch/symptoms-causes/syc-20353807

How to Get Rid of Jock Itch: 9 Natural Remedies

You don’t have to be an athlete or a jock to get jock itch. However, it’s most common in athletes because they sweat more than the average person and often wear sweaty clothing for long periods of time. This can make for the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria that causes this frustrating fungal infection.

While it isn’t the most appealing topic, jock itch is rather common. In fact, studies show that about 10 percent to 20 percent of the world population is affected by fungal skin infections! It’s important to note that candida symptoms can be similar to or even trigger jock itch.

What Is Jock Itch?

Jock itch, medically known as tinea cruris, or ringworm of the groin, is an infection of the groin area caused by fungus and can be rather annoying to anyone who has it. As the common name implies, it causes an itching or a burning sensation in the groin area, thigh skin folds or anus. However, tinea cruris affected area may not affect the penis or scrotum — though may involve the inner thighs and genital areas, as well as extend back to the perineum and perianal areas.

The genus of fungi is called trichophyton, which includes the parasitic varieties that cause tinea cruris. Trichophyton fungi also includes athlete’s foot, ringworm infections, and similar infections of the nail, beard, skin and scalp. Tinea corporis is an actual fungus infection that may affect the entire body.

Does jock itch occur in both males and females? Yes, though it’s more frequently seen in males. It’s also known as:

crotch itch
crotch rot
Dhobi itch
eczema marginatum
gym itch
jock rot
scrot rot
ringworm of the groin

The fungus that causes jock itch thrives in warm, moist areas and occurs mostly in adult men and teenage boys. It can be triggered by friction from clothes and prolonged wetness in the groin area, such as from sweating.

Is jock itch contagious? Technically yes, as it can be passed from one person to the next by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with unwashed clothing, such as bathing suits, that have been touched or shared. If you have athlete’s foot, it can even be passed by touching your own feet or socks, then touching your groin area.

Hot and humid weather can add to the cause. And people who have certain health conditions, such as obesity or diseases that cause problems with the immune system, are more likely to develop it.

Jock itch is caused by several types of mold-like fungi called dermatophytes, including Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum. Everyone has microscopic fungi and bacteria living on their bodies, and dermatophytes are among them. Dermatophytes live on the dead tissues of your skin, hair and nails and thrive in warm, moist areas like the insides of the thighs. When the groin area gets sweaty and isn’t dried properly, it traps heat and moisture, providing a perfect environment for the fungi to live and grow.

Symptoms

You can usually self-diagnose jock itch by how your skin looks. If you feel the need to check in with your health care provider or dermatologist, call to make an appointment. Tests are usually not necessary. However, you may need an office test called a KOH exam or a skin culture. Don’t worry — these tests are very simple and relatively painless, but they may help better identify the severity and diagnosis.

Common symptoms of jock itch include:

Red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze — and often have sharply defined edges
Patches are often redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center
Abnormally dark or light skin, sometimes permanently
Itching, chafing or burning in the groin, thigh or anal area
Flaking, peeling or cracking skin

Keep in mind that If the infection last longer than two weeks, is severe or continues to return, you may need treatment by a health care provider.

How to Prevent

To avoid every getting jock itch, the best thing you can do is have good hygiene. Here are a few key tips to help prevent jock itch:

Shower or take a bath daily, especially after playing sports.
Keep the area as dry as possible by always using a clean towel after showering or swimming.
Avoid sharing towels.
Try to avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing and undergarments.
Wash athletic supporters as often as possible.
Change clothes and undergarments daily.

It’s important to note that if you have a fungal infection somewhere else on your body, like athlete’s foot or ringworm, be sure to treat it to help prevent the fungus from spreading to your groin area. There are some things you can do to prevent the spread. Make sure you don’t touch or scratch your groin area after touching your feet, for example.

It’s important to use a separate towel on your feet after showering or dry your groin before your feet so the towel doesn’t spread the infection. Put your socks on before your underwear to cover your feet so that the germs do not get on your underwear.

Immediate Jock Itch Treatment

Jock itch usually responds to self-care within a couple of weeks by providing some some basic practices, such as:

Keep the skin clean and dry in the groin area. When cleaning the area, dry with a clean towel. It’s important that you don’t use the same towel on the rest of your body. Use a separate, clean towel instead.
Don’t wear clothing that rubs and irritates the area.
Shower immediately after athletic activities.
Don’t scratch!
Wear loose-fitting underwear.
Wash athletic supporters frequently.
Change your clothes, especially undergarments, daily.
Avoid heavily perfumed fabric conditioners and washing powders, as they may cause additional irritation.
Treat any other fungal infections you may have, such as athlete’s foot, because they’re similar and can cause the problem to linger, reoccur and spread if not treated.
Before trying over-the-counter antifungal or drying powders, which can contain lots of chemicals, try a natural remedy.
If it doesn’t get better within a few weeks, you may need to see your doctor to discuss your options.

Conventional jock itch treatment includes using powder sprays, often containing the antifungal clotrimazole. Clotrimazole is also the primary antifungal and so-called “active ingredient” present in the brand Lotrimin®. Lotrimin® is available in both cream and powder spray form. The most common side effects of clotrimazole include redness, irritation, burning, stinging, swelling, tenderness, pimple-like bumps or flaking of the treated skin.

LamisilAT® is another common conventional treatment but uses a different antifungal called terbinafine. LamisilAT® is used more often to treat fungus that affects the fingernails or toenails (onychomycosis). Common side effects include stomach upset (diarrhea, gas, nausea, stomach pain), headache, dizziness, mild skin rash, itching or even unpleasant/unusual taste or loss of taste in the mouth.

Natural Remedies

While there are a variety of commercially made, synthetic lotions and sprays that you can purchase, natural remedies from plants can be just as effective due to their antifungal qualities. Plus, they cost way less and provide a chemical-free approach to healing.

1. Change Your Diet

Changes in your diet can make a big difference in healing and prevention of jock itch. Foods that are high in sugars and carbohydrates often encourage fungus growth. Consider more whole fruits and vegetables daily. It’s also important to note that alcohol, especially beer, can cause yeast to grow. By reducing or eliminating your alcohol consumption, you may be able to keep jock itch problems from arising in the first place.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Because the acids in apple cider vinegar act as antibacterial agents, it can be a great option for healing bacterial jock itch. In addition, the antifungal activity of apple cider vinegar fights candida and fungus growth, including jock itch.

Combine equal parts apple cider vinegar and water into a spray bottle. You can place it in the refrigerator to provide a cooling effect that will bring added relief when applied to the inflamed skin.

For an even more complex jock itch home remedy, check out my DIY recipe below that uses essential oils as well as apple cider vinegar.

3. Cornstarch

Cornstarch is another natural remedy for jock itch. Cornstarch is derived from dried corn kernels and is the primary ingredient in baby powders. It can help the skin have a fresh, dry feeling while soothing the burning, raw effects from scratching the infected areas.

This can be applied after any of these treatments, once the area is dry, and can also be a great preventive method. [Note: some readers have found cornstarch unhelpful to their jock itch issues.]

4. Oatmeal and Epsom Salt Bath

This can be a relaxing way to achieve relief and healing. Add two cups of oatmeal and one cup of Epsom salt to a bath tub filled with warm water. Soak your body in the tub for about 20 minutes.

Make sure the water is not too hot since hot water can cause itchy skin and you want to avoid further irritation. As a bonus for some added healing and relaxation, you can add 10–20 drops of lavender oil.

5. Garlic and Honey

Garlic and honey have been known to provide relief because garlic is a natural bacteria killer while the honey soothes and helps control the itchy sensation associated with jock itch.

A study conducted in China looked to better understand the key components of garlic and its ability to fight infection. The main ingredients of garlic oil were identified as sulfides, mainly including disulfides (36 percent), trisulfides (32 percent) and monosulfides (29 percent) by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC/MS), which were estimated as the dominant antifungal factors. The good news is that the study indicated that the high antifungal effects of garlic oil make it a broad application prospect within antifungal environments.

Although the garlic can cause a slight irritation, because the honey acts as a moisturizer, it should counteract this effect. Chop the garlic into very small pieces, or mince it and mix it with organic or unfiltered honey and a little warm water to make a paste. Apply it to the infected skin area two times a day for 15 minutes. Wash thoroughly and let the area dry before putting on clothing.

You can also apply at night before you go to bed and leave on overnight. Another option is to try increasing your garlic intake orally. You can do this by simply eating more raw garlic in your favorite dishes or taking garlic capsules that you make yourself or buy at your local health food store.

6. Calendula

Calendula is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. It comes from calendula flowers or marigolds, providing wonderful skin-healing properties. Calendula may be perfect for anyone who has sensitive skin because it’s very soothing and calming.

The flowers of marigold have long been employed in folk therapy, and more than 35 properties have been attributed as benefits from the flowers — all of which make it a good option to treat jock itch.

7. Lavender Oil

Lavender oil benefits the skin as well because it’s a great antiseptic that contains antifungal properties. It’s very helpful in rapidly healing wounds and may aid in preventing the formation of scar tissue. And because it’s mild, it is typically safe to use on children.

Studies published in Medical Mycology report that lavender oil is highly effective and fighting infection and, therefore, may reduce fungal progression and the spread of infection in host tissues.

8. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is great way to treat jock itch because it has powerful antifungal qualities and is a natural antiseptic and germicide that helps reduce itchiness and inflammation of the skin. Studies show that tea tree oil, tested at different various concentrations, possesses antifungal activity and can help fight jock itch fungus.

Try combining three to four drops of tea tree oil with one ounce olive oil or coconut oil and apply to the area twice daily. Allow it to soak into the skin. Tea tree oil can sting a bit, so make sure to dilute with the base oils first.

9. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is one of the best natural remedies to treat any skin infection. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that aloe vera also has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties that may reduce your discomfort.

In addition, aloe vera penetrates deeply into the lower levels of the skin, bringing its remarkable properties to where they’re most needed. Although aloe is 99 percent water, aloe gel also contains a substance known as glycoprotein. Glycoprotein speeds the healing process by stopping pain and inflammation. It may also help stimulate the immune system.

Precautions

While you can use various remedies, discontinue use of anything that develops a rash or irritation. Use caution if you have any medical conditions, especially if it requires a prescribed medication. Always check with your doctor before using any essential oils, especially on children and pregnant women.

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Jock Itch Remedy

Author: Dr. Josh Axe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 30 uses 1 x

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How To Treat Jock Itch