JOCK ITCH: TO SCRATCH OR NOT TO SCRATCH

Jock itch or tinea cruris is a skin infection caused by a fungus Trichophyton rubrum. This fungus usually find niche in warm and damp part of the body such as genitals, inner thighs, groin area and the buttocks. Although it is not as serious as other skin infections, it can give massive discomfort to the patient. In addition, in most cases, men are in greater possibility of being infected than women. Excessive sweating and overweight in some instances may worsen the infection.

Signs and symptoms of Jock itch

The infected area may develop reddish, ring-shaped rashes that are itchy. In worst cases, it may cause damage to the skin if left unattended. Other symptoms include peeling of the skin and a burning sensation in the groin and around the groin area.

The fungus starts to grow when the damp part of the body becomes too warm and start producing sweat. Undergarments and clothes that are too tight may increase the infection. People with weak immune system like those who are suffering from AIDS and diabetes are more likely to acquire jock itch. The infection is slightly contagious by mere contact with an infected person. Sharing of personal belongings with the person with jock itch should be avoided.

Going to the gym and exercising has its set of benefits but it can also cause annoying fungal infections. Going to the gym or working out may mean better muscle tone, having a six packs abs or just a more attractive physique but untold horrors are also present.

There is an inherent fungus residing in our system known as Trichophyton rubrum. It flourishes in hot, moist and dark places of our body and usually it can find its ideal place in the groin. Friction in that area makes it worse. People who work outdoors and sweat a lot are more susceptible to this affliction as stated by Michael Ramsey, M.D., clinical instructor of dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston . Fortunately, one can totally get rid as well as prevent jock itch.

Home Remedies for jock itch

Home Remedies for jock itch are very simple easily available such as antibacterial soap which should be used to combat the condition. Keep the area groin dry. One can even use a blow dryer on the cool setting to dry your crotch area. One can also use the towel to dry as long as one is meticulous in the drying process.

The next step would be the application of anti-fungal creams such as miconazole and clotrimazole per instruction on the package. Minor cases of jock itch can be addressed by some procedures it is recommended that for serious cases; one should consult a medical practitioner. Other than the anti-fungal cream, one can also put on anti-fungal powder or use anti-fungal sprays. Tea tree oil and anti-dandruff shampoos are excellent home remedy for jock itch as well.

Garlic is a great jock itch home remedies including in you diet is also beneficial because of its anti –fungal effects. Honey and garlic alternately spread over the infected parts of the crotch area is also effective. The diet of a person has a big impact on the body thus; some foods may prevent some infections while some may worsen it. In the case of jock itch, refined carbohydrates and sugar should be avoided.

The presence of yeasts in a certain food should also deter a person from indulging himself or herself. Keep away from alcohols for it is converted into sugar in the body. Greasy, fried, and processed foods are also a no-no. It is recommended though that one should partake of plenty of fruits and vegetables especially the green and leafy ones. This is good jock itch treatment.

Other points to remember when using natural remedy for jock itch for a person afflicted with jock itch include keeping sure that the crotch area is dry thus necessitating regular changing of underwear. Avoid wearing tight clothing, which would not only hamper blood circulation but would also hinder air movements needed to keep the area dry. As much as possible wear clothes made of cloth for better air circulation. One cal also uses silica to keep an area dry. Scratching is not the answer to jock. Common sense and sensible habits can take care of the problem.

Add your Home Remedy below..

Comments

Diluted apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle .

#1 - Paul Buckingham - 02/12/2009 - 07:57

listerine.nothing worked better for me... apply a few time a day

#2 - onedeadcop - 07/25/2009 - 14:53

LISTRERINE !
you must be kidding, i guess is may help...cause your mind will be focused on stopping the burning -not-a-good-idea-

try,
washing the area more frequently, use a gentle soap, pat yourself dry DONT rub
do use an anti fungal 2x per day...during the itchiness avoid overheating yourself, if you do have s@x ...get up and wash and dry yourself and use the cream. Dont just lie there in your "moment of happiness and nap" You are setting yourself up for a repeat of the fungus.
Also change your towels daily if you can, fungus can live quite some time on a damp towel, that you reuse later that evening or morning.....put back what you got rid of.
Last powder....corn starch based....and dont over do it you are not trying to make play-doh .
Good luck
p.s. dont scratch

#3 - diasterman - 09/24/2009 - 09:11

for crying out loud, the easiest, most effective, long lasting cure for jock itch is...SHOWER and wash your balls at least twice a day you dirty son of a gun..

#4 - crotchmagic - 10/25/2009 - 09:35

Anti Dandruff and Garlic...also aftershave can be tried it's wonder..!

#5 - Deepsin - 11/01/2009 - 05:30

Who the hell writes this stuff? I can't understand it because it is in very poor English. The Asians need to understand how to speak English as well as write it! Learn English Grammar you jerks so your website can be helpful! I am going to look at another site because I can't understand this one! No help whatsoever!

#6 - Boobie - 03/25/2010 - 22:28

Try jewel weed its an antifungal grows wild near streams. A ticture in alchohol also helps hemorroids.

#7 - Bikindude - 05/26/2010 - 16:39

I've been getting jock itch more or less every year whenever it gets overly hot, humid and/or rainy. I usually just air it out (by wearing boxers/nothing at night) and it goes away, but this time around got it pretty nasty.

I'm not a big fan of pharmaceuticals, so did a little bit of research on my favourite remedy for many things to see wether there are applications for it in treating jock itch - hydrogen peroxide. I applied 3% solution with a cotton bud and it burnt like CRAZY, leaving the infected area red, sore and tender. I'm not sure whether the hydrogen peroxide aided or not, but in any event, I had to do something about the discomfort as I had to go to work, and the next simplest thing I could think of was plain petroleum jelly.

After applying a decent amount of petroleum jelly on the affected area the sting went away and when I got home I applied some more before going to bed. By the morning the rash was 90% gone and the itch as well! Amazing! I can't wait until next year to see whether petroleum jelly by itself would be effective (I've read somewhere that this fungus which affects the top layer of skin cannot receive oxygen through oil and thus dies upon the application of petroleum jelly).

#8 - Jay - 06/16/2010 - 21:51

I have used Vics vapor rub. It stung like hell but it worked after about a week. I'm not kidding.

#9 - AndrewI - 07/18/2010 - 00:20

I think I have jock itch but I can't tell. The head has some small red, slightly raised, dots and the foreskin is swollen under the head and is red. I think some of it is on my arm and it itches MAD CRAZY. I'm using anti jock itch and athletes foot cream but when I apply it it still itches not as bad but still is a discomfort. Do I have the jock itch? or something else? please give me an answer.

#10 - Ryan - 08/21/2010 - 23:03

Guess what? Women can get "jock itch" too and I'm living proof that even a person who is extremely clean can get it. I am overweight by 60 pounds and have had a child so I have a stomach pouch that doesn't really show through clothes, but naked...like a droopy apron. In the summer I bathe twice a day or more if I needed. My point is that this summer it was so hot and humid. What started it I think is either one of two things or maybe both. I ran out of the gentle shower wash I normally use and began using my husbands shower wash and it kind of made me itch a little "down there"...I also got my period and I wear pads which I change every 2 hours whether or not I have to. I wear tampons towards the end of my period but either way, during my cycle I'm aware that not changing pads often enough can bring on problems. So it was too my surprise that I began itching on one side of my pubic area. I've ended up with what can only be described as the worst reddest itch over one side of pubic mound, the crease between my leg and crotch and along side my stomach, with some of it going down the inner thigh of the same leg. It's like tiny bumps... they are somewhat scaley and the border of the rash on my thigh is solid from the crease out about 2 inches but then sort of defuse, not solid, at the outer most border. It looks like a really bad sunburn in that area. I want to scratch is so bad, have been kept up at night and don't think I've ever known such misery. I am taking showers 3 times a day now and have used miconizole, hydrocortizone cream, jock itch spray and have even used apple cider vinegar several times in the shower. IT burned like hell but the first time I used it, it helped the itch subside for several hours. I finally went to the doctor a week and half after it started and she thought it was "fungus' related and prescribed me 150 mg of Diflucan, 1 pill, every 3 days for 9 days. I googled it and am horrified to have read that many people have MAJOR side effects with this medication even 30 mins after taking one dose. So here I sit looking for answers and hoping to find a home remedy to help. She also ordered me some 'cream' but I have to wait til tomorrow to get it and I will apply it and wait on taking the Diflucan to see if the cream alone does it. In the meantime, I have just now applied a coating of vicks vapor rub to my lady area. Yep, I sit here in my own 'metholatum' heaven. It feels very weird and I'm a bit fearful that I may get sick from it somehow but I was reading on another website that some of the guys got total relief by applying the vicks. I know the feeling of the itch has gone way down for the moment, but its still red and bumpy. So we'll see. I"m feeling really weird just writing this "outloud"...no woman wants to think she has jock itch. The doc isn't for sure and did a light scraping to see if she could get enough to send to the lab. The thing is, is it's just a bunch of bumps, coelesqued together. There's no dampness or "weeping" of blisters or bumps like I've read about elsewhere. There is no smell and it isn't internal - just on the outside. I had just started an exercise program 2 weeks ago and the doc says its not a good idea to exercise while you have this because it makes it worse. That's my story. I hope it helps someone else, maybe another woman this happens to. I could get very depressed over this ...because the idea of it just freaks me out and here I am trying to remain in control but would like to do nothing more than howl at the moon and scratch myself to insanity!

#11 - Kathy - 08/24/2010 - 23:16

how do i itch when i am in front of 100 people?

#12 - mick - 09/10/2010 - 04:46

Kathy--

I feel your pain--er, itch. I am the only woman I know who has a problem with fungal infections. Never had a vag. yeast infection, but have been succeptible to ringworm most of my life. I am clean and healthy, other than being overweight.

A few months ago, I had a spot of ringworm on my cheek (facial) and was highly embarr[@]ed by it. My aunt kindly told me that her sister had adopted two children from out of the country and they had ringworm something awful. The only way she could get rid of it was to apply toilet bowl cleaner to the affected area. Please don't be alarmed, there is no ill treatment of children by anyone in our family. I was a bit dubious, to be sure, but I was fed up with having that spot on my face, so I washed my face and applied the cleaner undiluted with a paper towel. (I used The Works.) It stung like none other, but within a few days it was gone. I just used it to treat my jock itch so we will see if it works for that too. I think though that I will try do dilute it a bit so maybe it won't sting so much. If you do this method, you may itch some after the stinging subsides. I just use Benadryl Cream for that. Best of luck to you, and let me know how it goes!

#13 - another sufferer - 09/10/2010 - 23:38

Wow...what relief! The suggestions are actually working!

I started with vineger on a wash clother after showering (with soap, of course.) Then, I soaked the same clothe in water with a lotle bleach, and wiped it clean, again. Then, witchhazel to really clean it. Then, tea tree oil (very expensive.) Also, I find myself wiping it dry as often as possible, and re-applying the tea tree oil, which I try to carry with me. At night, I go through the same process before bed. But, I put on a generous amout of olive oil (cause that's all I have.) I think, tonight I will buy some bag balm, Vick's, or petroleum jelly. This was all brought on by an incredible increase in excersize and sweat. I also notice that you can really feel the weeping caused by this bug, and literally feel them moving on you when you add the oil. I think sufocation is an important element of homeopathic cure. So, keep drying, and adding oil. (I even do it if I wake up at night.) The only draw back is oil on the sheets and PJs. Maybe put some kind of plastic down, first. (The olive oil sure feel super nice.) Also, the problem with the weeping is that it causese the oils to dissapate more rapidly. So, just dry, and reapply. Eventually, the will suffocate, I suppose.

I love the advice.

#14 - Scott - 10/14/2010 - 20:17

maaaan some of my jock itch went away after using micatin. but not all! i started putting aftershave on it... hopefully that works.. anyone try it???

#15 - big boy - 10/16/2010 - 01:28

I have suffered from Jock Itch for 15+ years. Over the years I tried prescription, over the counter drug store items, and home remedies.

Two months ago I awoke in the middle of the night and was desperate for relief. I went to the bathroom and discovered I was out of the powder I normally used at night to control the itching.

In desperation I searched the cabinet and found a bottle of Sea Breeze astringent used to clean your face. To be honest I was desperate.

I put some in my hand and put it on the area. My broken skin burned so badly I was jumping up and down for 30 seconds.

I patted the area dry and went back to bed. That morning - maybe 5 hours later I noticed an improvement. So after my shower I applied it again. Yes it did burn but not as much as the first time. For the next two days I applied it in the morning after my shower and before I went to bed.

Each day I noticed a huge improvement over the previous day. On day 3 I felt better than I had in years. I decided not to use it and see what happened. Then after a week I started getting nervous that it might start up again. So I now apply it once a week - just in case.

I swear to you - for the first time in years I am without pain or itching and it's great. It's now about 2 months and I have used maybe 4 fl. oz. out of a 10 fl. oz. bottle that cost me maybe $2.50. I sure wish I had found this years ago!

It's Sea Breeze Actives with 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment. I don't know if it will help you or not but this has made a new and happy man out of me.

Cheers!

#16 - Finally Free of It - 10/28/2010 - 20:24

My man's jock itch done gave me a baby!!!!!

#17 - Shutup - 11/03/2010 - 22:00

I used to have this, but with antifungal cream it just went away. the only problem is that my skin is now darker where the rash used to be. It doesnt itch and it isnt dry anymore, but its like premanently darker than the rest of my leg...its annoying

#18 - yeah - 12/07/2010 - 22:35

Used a cotton swab and apple vinegar (diluted if stings terribly)
Followed by an antiperspirant

I cured it, the environment in Oregon is wet and dark, perfect for the little buggers to grow. Good luck!
This worked amazingly well!

#19 - Ted Hinshaw - 01/18/2011 - 13:34

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#20 - Prince - 02/16/2011 - 05:04

heres alittle MILITARY SECRET. This has cured every soldier I have ever told about this. After a shower no need to let it dry, clean the area with iodine....let it sit for about 30 secs. Wash it off with warm water....NOW LET IT DRY....or use a blow dryer on a cool setting til dry. Then apply a mixture of 1 part tea tree oil (100% organic) to 1 part Lavendar oil (100% organic) to 10 partsbaby oil or you can use baby oil with lavendar in it mixed with 1 part tea tree oil. Apply this to the area. You will get what I call the peppermint patty relief. Its cooling and the itch is gone. now wait about 4-6 hours or until it dries up and feels scratchy. Do this for about three days but do not forget to do the iodine step. Also we recommend that you take Garlic tablets 1000 mg- as garlic has antibiotic and antifungualproperties along with kelp tablets- as kelp is full of iodine and it will help kill the fungus from the inside out. This will cure you in about three to four days, but I recommend you apply for at least 7 days. But take the garlic and kelp tablets yr round this will keep you free or flare ups. I've never had any problems with side effects other than skin does peel, but its not painful more like how a sunburn peels but the skin underneath is free of fungus. So good luck.

#21 - military girl - 07/14/2011 - 18:15

eyy ive tried a natural lotion with vitamiin e :) try it works really well .. vitamin e with botanical extracts

#22 - oh yeah - 07/21/2011 - 03:00

Posting this for the world because I found help on-line. Mine was as bad as those pictures because I am in an out of a hot tub with damp shorts and sweaty groin area. 1 week later I am cured with dark color slowly going away as skin heals. First day of research I made a paste of non-fat yogurt with live bacteria (Trader Joes) Baking Soda and mashed garlic. Applied to inner thighs wherever rash was. Allowed to dry under fan with legs spread. It is important to excessively expose area during healing with fans and in the sun if possible. Keep dry! Second day, I started a routine of washing area with sudsy anti bacteria hand soap by hand because area is too tender for wash towel. Then softly pat dry and liberally apply Apple Cider Vinegar & water (1/4 cup ACV to 1 cup water) and let air dry. after skin drys apply wet Yogurt like a cooling cream to rash area whenever you can and repeat wash, vinegar, yogurt steps daily for 1 week. First the itch goes away, then the discomfort, then any open sores heal, then the skin heals itself. Also, eat yogurt every day to keep healthy bacteria in your body. Start exercising after recovery to reduce skin folds and begin your new life.

#23 - John Q Public - 10/06/2011 - 14:38

Shampoo works really well

#24 - fae - 01/08/2012 - 10:40

What kind of shampoo?

#25 - Itchy - 02/04/2012 - 00:46

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