Jock Itch:Causes
Jock itch, also referred as tinea cruris, is a fungal infection that affects the skin area in the groin. The warm and moist surroundings make the perfect spot for the fungus to thrive. That kind of atmosphere also increases risk of getting jock itch.
Hence, having sweaty and wet clothing during the summer time or putting on several layers of clothing in the wintertime can increase occurrence of jock itch. Usually men get this fungal infection more often than women.
What fungus is it that causes The Jock Itch?
The fungus responsible for jock itch is known as Trichophyton rubrum. It can also cause toe and body fungal infections. These fungi thrive only the dead skin cells of the epidermis.
How does the jock itch look like?
The jock itch rash begins in the area of groin fold and more often than not on both sides. Once the rash gets worse, it typically moves forward down the inner thigh. You’ll notice that the area where the fungus advanced would get redder and elevated than spots that were infected for quite some time. The area also will look scaly and easily noticeable or well differentiated. The skin that’s within the border becomes a reddish-brown and can lose much of its scale.
jock itch
Here you must take note that the Jock itch caused by Trichophyton rubrum does not affect the scrotum or penis. The most likely culprit would be Candida albicans, the same kind of yeast that’s responsible for vaginal yeast infections.
There are also other groin rashes that exhibit similar jock itch symptoms. One of them is called intertrigo. The rash that is red and macerated at the groin fold area not likely caused by a fungus. It could be due to moist skin rubbing against moist skin and usually seen in obese patients.