4 Ways to Recognize Jock Itch

1. Jock Itch Itches

One of the big ways you can recognize jock itch or ringworm in your genital, groin, buttocks or thigh area is itching. Ringworm is a fungus that thrives in warm, moist environments and the genitals are warm moist environments. Try to avoid scratching jock itch as you can spread it and cause infection or sores on genitals. Jock itch also doesn't occur on the scrotum or penis of men, meaning if you have itching on your scrotum or penis, you don't have jock itch. Walking and sweating can worsen the genital itching.

2. Jock Itch Changes the Skin

Jock itch causes reddened skin. You also may notice cracking or dry skin in areas of jock itch. You may also see red bumps and maybe the formation of a circle on your skin. In general, you won't see open lesions unless you've scratched the skin. Jock itch can spread from the fungus spores entering tiny rips in the skin.

3. Talk to Your Care Provider

The best way to know if you have jock itch is to talk to your care provider. They will probably ask about your symptoms and may perform a test. They may take skin scrapings or skin samples from the infected area to look under a microscope, called a KOH test. If the KOH test is negative, but your care provider still suspects jock itch, they may culture the skin scrapings to see if ringworm will grow on them.

4. Treat Jock Itch With Anti-Fungal Treatments

Jock itch is easy to treat. Use an ant-fungal treatment such as Monistat or Lotrimin on the infected area. It will take several weeks to heal completely. You should also make sure you wear loose clothing made from natural fibers that breathe such as cotton. You need to keep the genital area as dry as possible. Change your underwear every day. Wash your towels after each shower and never share your towels with another person. You'll also have to watch that you don't spread the jock itch to your partner during sex or sexual contact. You can spread jock itch to your feet which makes it into athlete's foot. Avoid drying your feet with the same towel you used to dry your genital area.