Jock Itch Overview
Learn About Jock Itch
Jock itch is an infection of the groin area caused by a fungus. The medical term is tinea cruris or ringworm of the groin.
Fungal infection - groin; Infection - fungal - groin; Ringworm - groin; Tinea cruris; Tinea of the groin
Jock itch occurs when a type of fungus grows and spreads in the groin area.
Jock itch occurs mostly in adult men and teenage boys. Some people who have this infection also have athlete's foot or another kind of ringworm. The fungus that causes jock itch thrives in warm, moist areas.
Jock itch can be triggered by friction from clothes and prolonged moistness in the groin area, such as from sweating. A fungal infection of the feet can spread to the groin area by pulling up pants if the waistband gets contaminated with fungus from the feet.
Jock itch can be passed from one person to another by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with unwashed clothing.
Jock itch usually stays around the creases of the upper thigh and does not involve the scrotum or penis. Jock itch may spread to near the anus, causing anal itching and discomfort. Symptoms include:
- Red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze. The patches often have sharply-defined edges with scale at the edges.
- Abnormally dark or light skin. Sometimes, these changes are permanent.
Jock itch usually responds to self-care within a couple of weeks:
- Keep the skin clean and dry in the groin area.
- Do not wear clothing that rubs and irritates the area. Wear loose-fitting underwear.
- Wash athletic supporters frequently.
- Over-the-counter antifungal creams or powders can help control the infection. These contain medicine, such as miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, or tolnaftate.
You may need treatment by your provider if your infection lasts longer than 2 weeks, is severe, or frequently returns. Your provider may prescribe:
- Stronger topical (applied to the skin) antifungal medicines or oral antifungal medicines
- Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections that may occur from scratching the area
If you tend to get jock itch, continue to apply antifungal medicine after bathing, even when you do not have jock itch.
Jock itch is more common in overweight people with deep, moist skin folds. Losing weight may help prevent the condition from coming back.
Sumanas Bunyaratavej practices in Bangkok Noi, Thailand. Bunyaratavej is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Jock Itch. Their top areas of expertise are Ringworm, Fungal Nail Infection, Jock Itch, and Ingrown Toenail.
Charussri Leeyaphan practices in Bangkok Noi, Thailand. Leeyaphan is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Jock Itch. Their top areas of expertise are Ringworm, Fungal Nail Infection, Jock Itch, and Athlete's Foot.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute Of Medical Sciences And Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Ananta Khurana practices in New Delhi, India. Khurana is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Jock Itch. Their top areas of expertise are Jock Itch, Ringworm, Leprosy, Erythema Nodosum, and Cataract Removal.
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.
Contact your provider if jock itch does not respond to home care after 2 weeks or you have other symptoms.
Published Date: April 01, 2025
Published By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Elewski BE, Hughey LC, Hunt KM, Hay RJ. Fungal diseases. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 77.
Hay RJ. Dermatophytosis (ringworm) and other superficial mycoses. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 266.