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Tinea cruris - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment of Tinea cruris

Alternative Names : Jock itch, Itching in the groin - males, Tinea of the groin, Fungal infection - groin, Ringworm of the groin

What is Tinea cruris ?

Tinea cruris is an infection of the groin caused by a fungus. It is most often seen in adult men. An infection of the groin is usually caused by anthropophile fungi. The most common species are Epidermophyton floccosum and Tricophyton rubrum. The appearance is similar to ringworm (tinea corporis).

The rash has a scaly raised red border that spreads down the inner thighs from the groin or scrotum. Tinea cruris may form ring-like patterns on the buttocks. It is not often seen on the penis or vulva or around the anus. Tinea cruris can be very itchy.

Causes of Tinea cruris

The condition is more common in men than in women. The fungi love warm, moist places, and they are often a problem for people with active lifestyles, or those who do not look after their personal hygiene carefully enough. Tinea infections are somewhat contagious and can be passed from direct contact or contact with items such as clothing. Some of the common causes of Tinea cruris are :-

• Tinea cruris is caused by a fungus.
• Tinea cruris is not contagious; direct person to person contact rarely leads to spreading of tinea cruris.
• Irritation with some chemicals.

Symptoms of Tinea cruris

Some of the common symptoms of tinea cruris are :-

• The infection often takes the form of a fairly large, scaly, red-brown patch on the groin.
• Typically the tinea cruris (groin) becomes itchy and irritable, mainly in the crease between the top of the leg and the genitals. It is more common in men, and the scrotum may also be itchy.
• Skin becomes dark or light.
• The disease is most active at the edges of the patch
• The infection spreads to the skin on other parts of the body (or may have first started in another area such as athlete's foot). Fungal infections do not usually go deeper than the skin into the body, and are not usually serious.

Treatment for Tinea cruris

• Tinea cruris usually clears up quickly when antifungal medicines are applied twice daily to the skin.
• Apply the antifungal cream to the surrounding 4-6 cm of normal skin in addition to the rash.
• Do not share towels with people in communal changing rooms. Wash towels frequently.
• Change underwear daily. Fungi may multiply in flakes of skin in unwashed underwear.

Treatment is continued for a 5 to 6 days after the rash has gone, to minimise the risk of recurrence.

Prevention tips for Tinea cruris

• Keep your own towel when you have a fungal skin infection to reduce the chance of passing on the fungus to others.
• Dry the groin carefully after bathing using a separate towel.
• If you are overweight, try to lose weight to reduce chafing and sweating.

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