Jock Itch Cure

Any man can recognize the signs of the dreaded fungal menace known as jock itch. In addition to itching in the groin, on the inner thigh and in the anal area, you'll see a raised rash that starts to clear in the center, forming a characteristic ring-like look. Since the last thing you want to do is to spend all day scratching yourself, you need to cure jock itch as quickly as possible. Try these treatment options and then take steps to keep jock itch from coming back

I. Treatment Options

1. Use an anti-fungal cream. Your best options include Lamisil, Lotrimin Ultra, and/or Naftin. These are more expensive, but they will get rid of jock itch faster. Prefer Lotrimin Ultra which contains Butenafine Hydrochloride over regular Lotrimin AF which just contains clotrimazole. Studies have shown Butenafine can be faster and more effective than clotrimazole. Furthermore, generic clotrimazole can be purchased for as low as a dollar a tube whereas regular Lotrimin AF (containing clotrimazole) can retail for up to 10 times that amount.

• You can also purchase cheaper creams containing clotrimazole or miconazole. These will take a little longer to work, but they will effectively wipe out jock itch.
• Even when the symptoms disappear, you need to apply cream to your groin area for the amount of time specified on the package. Just like you take antibiotics until all of the medicine is gone, you need to follow the full treatment regimen using your cream.
• Treat athlete's foot at the same time if you have it. Doing this will decrease the risk for recurrence. 

2. Keep your skin clean and dry. Make sure to dry yourself thoroughly after a shower because fungus thrives in warm, moist environments. When you can, either go without underwear or go naked to expose the affected area to air. When that's not feasible, at least wear boxers instead of briefs.

3. Avoid wearing any clothing that rubs or irritates your crotch. Avoid tight underwear and tight pants of any kind.

4. Refrain from scratching. Scratching will irritate the rash and could break your skin, creating the potential for infection.

• Trim your nails if you can't stop scratching. Wear gloves when you're trying to go to sleep at night.
• Take a cool bath for relief. Sprinkle the water with uncooked oatmeal, baking soda or a substance called colloidal oatmeal (Aveeno is a good brand) that is made specifically for the bath. Just dry your crotch thoroughly when you get out of the tub.

6. Talk to your doctor if the scaly redness doesn't go away within a couple of weeks, if it starts getting worse or if you notice that it's turned yellow and oozes. Your doctor can offer you a couple of options:

• Prescription creams: Doctors can prescribe prescription strength anti-fungals including econazole and oxiconazole.
• Antibiotics: If your jock itch has become infected, doctors can prescribe an antibiotic to help clear up the infection.
• Oral anti-fungal medications: Sporanox, Diflucan or Lamisil are all medications that your doctor may prescribe for you. You may experience gastrointestinal problems or abnormal liver function. If you're taking antacids or warfarin, you probably shouldn't take these medications. Another option, Grifulvin V, takes longer to work but seems good for people who are allergic to other anti-fungals or who have conditions that makes taking other medications a bad idea.

II. Preventing Future Episodes of Jock Itch

1. Shower daily. Don't wait long to shower after you've been perspiring heavily or exercising. Use mild soap and water, and avoid anti-bacterial and deodorant soaps. 
2. Keep your groin clean and dry at all times. If you find you're susceptible to jock itch, then cover your groin or athletic cup with anti-fungal or drying powders after you take a bath or shower.
3. Avoid clothing or underwear that irritates the area. Choose loose-fitting clothes with smooth fabrics. Wear boxers instead of briefs.
4. Wash your underwear and athletic supporter frequently. Also, never share your towels or your clothing with other people. Jock itch can spread by contact with unwashed clothing or athletic cups.
5. Put on your socks before you put on your underwear if you have athlete's foot. Doing this keeps the fungus from spreading to your groin from your feet. 
6. Take off wet swimsuits quickly. Change into something dry. Avoid carrying wet or sweaty clothing in your gym bag. Also, don't keep damp clothing in your locker. Instead, wash your gym clothes after each use

Who gets Jock Itch? Treated

Who gets jock itch?

 

Men are more likely than women to get jock itch, but that's just a function of anatomy. Men have more folds of skin in their groins that can get irritated and may harbor infections. Dermatologists say they've seen an increase in patients with jock itch because of the increasing girth of many Americans.

"When people are overweight or obese, they often have problems with skin rubbing against skin or clothing and getting irritated," says dermatologist Bruce Robinson, MD, a clinical instructor at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Overweight or obese people also typically have more deep folds of skin where moisture and heat can build up.

How is jock itch treated?
Fortunately, most cases of jock itch can be treated with over-the-counter remedies and a little common sense. "It's fine to treat the symptoms yourself at first to see if they go away," Rohrer says. Here's how:
After showering or bathing, dry the irritated groin area by gently patting it with a towel. Be sure to dry your skin thoroughly.
Apply a 1% hydrocortisone cream and then zinc oxide ointment to prevent chafing and ease irritation.
Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing to avoid chafing.
If your symptoms don't go away within a couple of days, try applying an antifungal lotion, spray, or gel. Prescription-strength antifungal medications have become available over the counter, making it easier to treat jock itch yourself, Robinson says. "But It's important to give antifungal products time to work," he tells WebMD. "Even if the rash and itching go away, continue applying the antifungal for four weeks, to keep the fungus from coming back."

If your symptoms don’t improve within a week or get worse, see your doctor immediately. You may have a bacterial infection that requires an antibiotic treatment.

Jock Itch Prevention, Prognosis, Medications...

1. Jock Itch Prevention 

To prevent jock itch, try to keep your groin area clean and dry.

• Use cornstarch, powders, even antifungal powder, such as Desenex or Cruex, in the various skin folds.
• It is best to wear loose-fitting cotton underwear.
• From a public-health perspective, sterilizing linens by washing in hot soapy water with bleach can help in situations of communal bedding and bath linens

2. Jock Itch Prognosis

• Most cases of jock itch go away completely but commonly return if the physical environment recurs.
• An infection may come back for some people.
• In others, it may become chronic

Jock Itch Medications

The doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication based on your history, physical examination, and laboratory tests.

• Skin creams or lotions will probably be the first-line therapy for any of the causes of jock itch. Which one is appropriate will depend upon your physician's diagnosis.
• Prescription topical antifungal medications may come in the form of a cream, powder, gel, or spray for application to the skin. Some topical therapies are available over the counter. Miconazole (Micatin, Monistat Derm), tolnaftate (Aftate, Ting, Tinactin), clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex), and terbinafine (Lamisil) are some examples and probably are as effective as the medications available by prescription.
• For the bacterial infection of the groin (erythrasma), either topical or oral erythromycin is very effective.
• For jock itch that is not infected, application of nonprescription 1% hydrocortisone cream and a barrier cream like zinc oxide ointment is beneficial.
• Oral medications have a greater risk for side effects.
• They will be reserved for extensive, severe, or chronic infections.
• They may also be prescribed if topical therapy does not work. Commonly prescribed medications are itraconazole (Sporanox) and fluconazole (Diflucan).
• You will use the medication for one to several weeks because fungal infections can take a long time to clear

The Treatment for Jock Itch, Home Remedies...

What is the treatment for jock itch?

Jock Itch Treatment

 

Reader Stories

There are many treatment options and skin-care recipes for treating jock itch. Since the two primary causes of jock itch are excess moisture and fungal infections, treatment depends on the exact cause of the jock itch. Treatment of jock itch associated with skin irritation and excess moisture should address general measures to keep the groin clean and dry along with the use of zinc oxide ointment. Treatment of fungal jock itch should include antifungal creams used continuously for two to four weeks.
It is important to keep in mind that no therapy is uniformly effective in all people.

What home remedy can I use for jock itch?

Home remedy for mild jock itch includes the following:

• Wash the groin skin two to three times a day.
• Keep the groin area dry.
• Avoid excess groin skin irritation by wearing 100% cotton underwear.
• Avoid fabric softeners, bleaches, or harsh laundry detergents.
• Apply a mix of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex) cream one to two times a day to the affected area and covering this liberally with zinc oxide ointment. 

What is Jock Itch? Causes, Symptoms

What is jock itch?

Jock itch (tinea cruris) is a form of ringworm. Ringworm is not a worm at all. It is a fungal infection of the outer layers of skin, hair, or nails. Fungi (plural of fungus) are present everywhere in our environment.

Ringworm of the skin appears as a rash with patches that may be red or peeling or that have bumps on the edges that look like blisters. The skin often is itchy, and the rash can spread quickly. You can have both jock itch and athlete's foot (tinea pedis) at the same time.

What causes jock itch?

Jock itch is caused by a fungus. Fungi commonly grow on or in the top layer of skin. They may or may not cause an infection. Fungi grow best in warm, moist areas of the body such as the groin, inner thighs, and buttocks.
As the name suggests, jock itch mostly affects male athletes, but anyone can get it. Using public showers and locker rooms increases your chances of getting jock itch. Fungi grow best in the steamy rooms among damp towels, sweaty workout clothes, and wet floors. So it's not surprising that jock itch and athlete's foot often occur at the same time, since both are caused by fungi.

What are the symptoms of jock itch?

Symptoms of jock itch include the following:

• Itching and pain are common.
• A rash is on the groin, skin folds, inner thighs, or buttocks. The rash usually does not occur on the scrotum or penis.
• The edge of the rash is very distinct and may be scaly or have bumps that look like blisters.
• The center of the rash may have a red-brown color.

How is jock itch diagnosed?

Jock itch is annoying, but it usually is not serious. If you have had jock itch in the past, you may recognize the symptoms. Your doctor can tell if you have jock itch after asking questions about your symptoms and past health and by looking at your rash. Your doctor may scrape a little of the rash on a glass slide so that he or she can look at it under a microscope.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/men/tc/jock-itch-topic-overview