It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:.
Author: Healthwise Staff. Gabica MD - Family Medicine. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional.
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Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Overview How can you care for yourself at home? When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Overview Jock itch is a fungal infection of the groin. How can you care for yourself at home? You may also be more prone to the infection if you are taking immunosuppressive drugs, such as prednisone.
Those on biologic immune-system modifying drugs such as infliximab Avsola, Inflectra, Remicade, Renflexis or etanercept Enbrel are also at a higher risk. Your healthcare provider can usually diagnose jock itch based on how your skin looks. Rarely, doctors may take a small scraping of your skin to look at under a microscope.
Tests are usually not necessary. If tests are needed, they may include:. Prognosis of Jock Itch Jock itch usually doesn't go away on its own, but it can be easily treated and cured. Jock itch usually responds promptly to treatment.
It is often less severe than other tinea infections, such as athlete's foot, but may last a long time. The nonprescription products available to treat ringworm include:. Complications are uncommon, but you may experience one of the following:. And most people develop at least one type of ringworm infection at some point in their lives. Diseases that may mimic jock itch include:.
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. December 3, February Fungal Diseases: Symptoms of Ringworm. November 19, Mayo Clinic. March 4, Fungal Diseases: About Ringworm. Fungal Diseases: Treatment for Ringworm. November 13, Cleveland Clinic. September 24, Psoriasis: Overview. Because of this, jock itch may be referred to as ringworm of the groin.
Like other tinea infections, jock itch is caused by an overgrowth of the tinea fungus. This fungus lives on the skin in small amounts, but can multiply and grow quickly in warm, moist areas. Jock itch is caused by a ringworm fungal infection. This fungus is highly contagious and can be spread easily from person to person through use of shared clothing and towels. The infection can also live on surfaces like exercise equipment, making it very easy to become infected.
The fungus that causes jock itch thrives in warm, moist environments. People with increased risk for jock itch are those who often spend a lot of time sweating due to exercise or their weight. Jock itch starts with a flat, red, itchy rash. This rash often first appears on the inner thighs. The rash then spreads outward in a ring-like pattern. As the rash spreads, the center of the rash will often get somewhat better.
The rash often develops a well-defined, red border that may include a line of blisters. Doctors can easily diagnose most cases of jock itch just by looking the rash. However, in some cases where the diagnosis is not as clear cut, a doctor may send a sample of the infected skin to a laboratory for closer examination. Although jock itch is not a serious problem, a doctor should look at any persistent skin rash that develops, in order to rule out other serious conditions.
A person with jock itch should also see a doctor if over-the-counter treatments do not work, or if the rash worsens. Jock itch is fairly easy to treat. Most cases respond to the over-the-counter treatments that are available.
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